The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has cleared Novartis AG's proposed buyout of rival global pharmaceuticals company Alcon Laboratories Inc, after Novartis agreed to sell one of Alcon's products to eye care company Bausch & Lomb in Australia. The Swiss drugmaker is seeking to buy out minority shareholders in Alcon after earlier this year buying Nestle's majority stake to bring its holding to 77 percent. Both companies compete in a number of pharmaceutical product markets relating to eye care. Novartis will sell Alcon's injectable miotic assets used in eye surgery in Australia as the ACCC raised concerns that the takeover would leave Novartis as the only player in that market. 
Share:  <span class="sent">The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has cleared Novartis AG's proposed buyout of rival global pharmaceuticals company Alcon Laboratories Inc, after Novartis agreed to sell one of Alcon's products to eye care company Bausch & Lomb in Australia. The Swiss drugmaker is seeking to buy out minority shareholders in Alcon after earlier this year buying Nestle's majority stake to bring its holding to 77 percent. Both companies compete in a number of pharmaceutical product markets</span> relating to eye care. Novartis will sell Alcon's injectable miotic assets used in eye surgery in Australia as the ACCC raised concerns that the takeover would leave Novartis as the only player in that market. Tweet this   read full story

Alcon (ACL) was downgraded today by analysts at Wells Fargo and the stock is now at $154.71, down $1.40 ( 0.9%) on volume of 396,694 shares traded. 
Share:  <span class="sent"><span class="company">Alcon</span> (ACL) was downgraded today by analysts at <span class="analyst">Wells Fargo</span> and the stock is now at $154.71, down $1.40 ( 0.9%) on volume of 396,694 shares traded.</span> Tweet this   read full story

Alcon ( ACL ) downgraded at Wells Fargo to Market Perform from Outperform on legal maneuvering by NVS and the IDC / minority shareholders. 
Share:  <span class="sent"><span class="company">Alcon</span> ( ACL ) downgraded at Wells Fargo to Market Perform from Outperform on legal maneuvering by NVS and the IDC / minority shareholders.</span> Tweet this   read full story

Wells Fargo downgrades Alcon (NYSE: ACL ) from 'Outperform' to 'Market Perform' and lowers the valuation range from $168 $180 to $161 $163. 
Share:  <span class="sent">Wells Fargo downgrades <span class="company">Alcon</span> (NYSE: ACL ) from 'Outperform' to 'Market Perform' and lowers the valuation range from $168 $180 to $161 $163.</span> Tweet this   read full story

. A poll of analysts conducted by Thomson Reuters showed an average Wall Street estimate of expected earnings of $2.03 per share, on revenue of $1.83 billion. . President and chief executive officer Kevin Buehler said, "Our strong performance in the first half of this year was driven by the successful global execution of our operational strategies and was further supported by a lower first half comparison period. We have risen above the global reimbursement challenges in 2010 to achieve very positive organic sales growth at the Alcon group level and market share expansion of our key promoted brands on a global basis." . 
Share:  . A poll of analysts conducted by Thomson Reuters showed an average Wall Street estimate of expected earnings of $2.03 per share, on revenue of $1.83 billion. <span class="sent">. President and chief executive officer <span class="analyst">Kevin Buehler</span> said, "Our strong performance in the first half of this year was driven by the successful global execution of our operational strategies and was further supported by a lower first half comparison period.</span> We have risen above the global reimbursement challenges in 2010 to achieve very positive organic sales growth at the <span class="company">Alcon</span> group level and market share expansion of our key promoted brands on a global basis." . Tweet this   read full story

We have risen above the global reimbursement challenges in 2010 to achieve very positive organic sales growth at the Alcon group level and market share expansion of our key promoted brands on a global basis. Key growth drivers like advanced technology intraocular lenses, glaucoma treatments and emerging markets are providing both near term and durable long term opportunities," said Kevin Buehler, Alcon's president and chief executive officer. "These results and our outlook for the balance of the year reflect an improved market environment that we expect to support sustainable organic sales growth and operating leverage in the future.". Sales Highlights. 
Share:  We have risen above the global reimbursement challenges in 2010 to achieve very positive organic sales growth at the <span class="company">Alcon</span> group level and market share expansion of our key promoted brands on a global basis. <span class="sent">Key growth drivers like advanced technology intraocular lenses, glaucoma treatments and emerging markets are providing both near term and durable long term opportunities," said <span class="analyst">Kevin Buehler</span>, <span class="company">Alcon</span>'s president and chief executive officer.</span> "These results and our outlook for the balance of the year reflect an improved market environment that we expect to support sustainable organic sales growth and operating leverage in the future.". Sales Highlights. Tweet this   read full story

HUENENBERG, Switzerland--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Alcon, Inc. (NYSE: ACL) announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire LenSx Lasers, Inc, a privately held company that developed the first femtosecond laser to receive U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance for use as a part of cataract surgery. The LenSx system is indicated for anterior capsulotomy and laser phacofragmentation during cataract surgery, providing a complementary surgical approach to certain manual steps within the traditional cataract procedure. “The LenSx femtosecond laser has been designed to advance the precision and reproducibility of key manual portions of the cataract procedure, something we have seen lasers do repeatedly in other ophthalmic procedures” .Alcon will pay US $361.5 million in cash at closing to LenSx shareholders for their shares, plus maximum contingent payments of US $382.5 million based upon the achievement and over-achievement of future femtosecond unit and procedure fee revenue milestones. 
Share:  <span class="sent">HUENENBERG, Switzerland--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Alcon, Inc. (NYSE: ACL) announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire LenSx Lasers, Inc, a privately held company that developed the first femtosecond laser to receive U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance for use as a part of cataract surgery. The LenSx system is indicated for anterior capsulotomy and laser phacofragmentation during cataract surgery, providing a complementary surgical approach to certain manual steps</span> within the traditional cataract procedure. “The LenSx femtosecond laser has been designed to advance the precision and reproducibility of key manual portions of the cataract procedure, something we have seen lasers do repeatedly in other ophthalmic procedures” .Alcon will pay US $361.5 million in cash at closing to LenSx shareholders for their shares, plus maximum contingent payments of US $382.5 million based upon the achievement and over-achievement of future femtosecond unit and procedure fee revenue milestones. Tweet this   read full story

He said the company was also evaluating suitable technologies and products in the Indian market for acquisition. "Money will not be a constraint for acquiring the right product and target," he said. 
Share:  <span class="sent">He said the company was also evaluating suitable technologies and products in the Indian market for acquisition. "Money will not be a constraint for acquiring the right product and target," he said.</span> Tweet this   read full story

Alcon Inc, the world's leading eye care company, is planning to rope in strategic manufacturing alliances and joint ventures with leading Indian drug manufacturers such as Cipla. According to Alcon President and Chief Executive Officer Kevin J Buehler, the company is in preliminary discussions with three to four leading Indian drug firms for contract manufacturing tie ups for product supply,. "We are looking at Indian companies having global scale and manufacturing standards like Cipla," he told Business Standard. The alliance is primarily to boost Alcon's Indian business, which is targeting a turnover of over $100 million (over Rs 450 crore) by 2012 
Share:  <span class="company">Alcon</span> Inc, the world's leading eye care company, is planning to rope in strategic manufacturing alliances and joint ventures with leading Indian drug manufacturers such as Cipla. <span class="sent">According to <span class="company">Alcon</span> President and Chief Executive Officer <span class="analyst">Kevin J Buehler</span>, the company is in preliminary discussions with three to four leading Indian drug firms for contract manufacturing tie ups for product supply,.</span> "We are looking at Indian companies having global scale and manufacturing standards like Cipla," he told Business Standard. The alliance is primarily to boost <span class="company">Alcon</span>'s Indian business, which is targeting a turnover of over $100 million (over Rs 450 crore) by 2012....In India, the company is also competing with majors in opthalmic solutions such as Allergan, Abbott, Bausch & Lomb and leading domestic drug makers. <span class="sent"><span class="analyst">Kevin Buehler</span> said <span class="company">Alcon</span> India was poised for a major growth with close to 40 per cent growth during the current year to touch a turnover of over $60 million (Rs 273 crore).</span> He said <span class="company">Alcon</span> would invest heavily in training human power, with a vision to take the number of employees in the country to over 450. So far, <span class="company">Alcon</span> has hired and trained over 140 people....In India, the company is also competing with majors in opthalmic solutions such as Allergan, Abbott, Bausch & Lomb and leading domestic drug makers. <span class="sent">Kevin <span class="analyst">Buehler</span> said <span class="company">Alcon</span> India was poised for a major growth with close to 40 per cent growth during the current year to touch a turnover of over $60 million (Rs 273 crore).</span> He said <span class="company">Alcon</span> would invest heavily in training human power, with a vision to take the number of employees in the country to over 450. So far, <span class="company">Alcon</span> has hired and trained over 140 people. Tweet this   read full story