Allergan, B&L sales up

Allergan and its spinoff Advanced Medical Optics posted worldwide sales increases of 14% for the second quarter 2002 compared with the same period in 2001. The company's Alphagan (brimonidine) line for the treatment of glaucoma increased sales by 4.5%. Sales of Lumigan (bimatoprost), another antiglaucoma drug, increased to $32 million in the quarter. Overall, the company's glaucoma products (Alphagan, Alphagan P, Lumigan and Betagan) increased sales by 44% over the same quarter of 2001.

Rochester, N.Y.-based Bausch & Lomb also increased its revenues during the second quarter of 2002 by 14% over the comparable period in 2001. Double-digit increases in its contact lens, lens care and pharmaceutical product lines all contributed to the positive earnings statement. Pharmaceutical growth was helped by strong demand for the company's Ocuvite line of ocular vitamin supplements and Lotemax (loteprednol etabonate) anti-inflammatory eye drops.

Cataract surgery product revenues were flat from the previous year, and refractive surgery product revenues declined 13% in actual dollars. Outside the United States, however, sales of the company's Zyoptix system for customized ablation continued to grow.

Bausch & Lomb has requested regulatory approval in the United States to market its fluocinolone acetonide ophthalmic implant (previously referred to as Envision TD) as Retisert.