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Alcon history
Alcon company history timeline
1945 Two pharmacists, Robert Alexander and William Conner, open a small pharmacy in Fort Worth, Texas, combining the first syllables of their last names to call it Alcon
Alcon was founded in 1945 as a small ophthalmic shop in Fort Worth, Texas.
1959 – Alcon opens an office in Canada, beginning its international operations.
1962 The Alcon Trust is established, and continues today through the Alcon Foundation
1962 – Alcon begins its patient assistance program, providing free medications to low-income glaucoma patients and supporting medical missions worldwide.
1969 – Alcon’s surgical division is formed with seven associates.
Nestlé of Switzerland purchased Alcon in 1977.
1978 – Swiss food company Nestlé acquires Alcon.
1979 – Alcon begins an ongoing partnership with ORBIS International* to bring eye care services and health care provider training to impoverished communities worldwide.
In 1979, Alcon acquired Texas Pharmacal Company which became Dermatological Products of Texas (and is now DPT Laboratories).
1982 – The William C. Conner Research Center is established, helping Alcon significantly expand research into treatments for eye diseases and disorders.
In 1984, Alcon founded the Technical Excellence Award to promote achievements in R&D excellence and has awarded it to more than 100 recipients.
1988 – Alcon acquires Sharpoint, Inc., expanding its surgical manufacturing capabilities.
1989 Launch of NewVue (Focus), Alcon’s first soft contact lens exclusively for periodic replacement
1989 – Alcon purchases CooperVision Surgical and combines them with its existing operations to become the world’s leading ophthalmic surgical company.
1990 – Alcon’s Irvine Technology Center, the world’s foremost center for the development of ophthalmic instrumentation, opens in California.
1994 – The FDA approves Alcon’s AcrySof® intraocular lens (IOL), representing the first time a material had been developed specifically for an IOL. Today, Alcon’s portfolio of AcrySof® IOLs are the world’s most frequently implanted lenses.
1997– Alcon introduces Patanol® ophthalmic solution, now the leading prescription eye drop for treating allergic conjunctivitis.
1997– Tim Sear, a longtime leader in Alcon’s international expansion, becomes the company’s third president and CEO.
2000 – Alcon acquires Summit Autonomous and Grieshaber to enter the refractive laser market and expand its line of retinal surgery instruments.
2001 – Alcon introduces TRAVATAN® ophthalmic solution for lowering intraocular pressure in glaucoma patients.
2004 CIBA VISION launches O2OPTIX™ (later re-branded as AIR OPTIX®), a high oxygen transmissibility, breathable monthly replacement contact lens
2006 – Alcon significantly expands its glaucoma and cataract treatments with TRAVATAN Z® ophthalmic solution, which lowers intraocular pressure in glaucoma patients and the AcrySof® Toric IOL for cataract patients withastigmatism.
2007 – Alcon expands its product portfolio for LASIK surgery through regulatory clearance to purchase Wavelight AG.
2008 Alcon introduces the CONSTELLATION® Vision System for vitreoretinal surgery
2008 – Alcon launches the company’s first nasal product, Patanase® nasal spray, to treat nasal allergy symptoms and AcrySof® line expansions with the Phakic and IQ ReSTOR® +3.0 D IOLs.
2008 – Novartis purchases approximately 25 percent of Nestlé’s stake in Alcon, becoming its second largest shareholder.
2009 – Alcon’s leading brand of intraocular lenses (IOLs), AcrySof®, exceeds 40 million implants.
2009 – Alcon Laboratories, Inc., the United States subsidiary of Alcon, is recognized for the 11th consecutive year as one of FORTUNE’s “Best Companies To Work For.”
Novartis also retains the option to purchase the remaining 52 percent of Nestlé’s ownership of Alcon beginning in 2010.
2011 Alcon launches the world’s first-and-only water gradient daily disposable contact lens, DAILIES TOTAL1®
2011 – The boards of Novartis and Alcon complete its merger agreement, giving Novartis 100 percent ownership of Alcon.
2013 Alcon launches its most advanced phacoemulsification technology platform, the CENTURION® Vision System
2014 Alcon introduces AIR OPTIX® COLORS contact lenses, a monthly replacement color- enhancing lens with silicone hydrogel technology, now available in nine natural-looking colors
2014 Alcon acquires the developer of the Optiwave Refractive Analysis (ORA) SYSTEM®, the first commercialized intra-operative aberrometry system for cataract surgery, which has now been used in more than two million cases worldwide
2015 The first Alcon Experience Center (AEC), an eye health education and training center, opens.
2015 Alcon launches next generation hydrogen peroxide lens care solution, AOSEPT® PLUS with HydraGlyde® Solution (CLEAR CARE® PLUS in North America)
2016 DAILIES TOTAL1® Multifocal contact lenses launch, the first-and-only water gradient contact lenses for people with presbyopia
On April 9, 2019, Alcon completed a 100% spin-off from Novartis.
2019 The introduction of PRECISION1® silicone hydrogel daily disposable contact lenses offers lasting visual performance and comfort at a mainstream price
2019 Alcon launches the LuxOR Revalia™ Ophthalmic Microscope which is designed for both anterior and posterior procedures, for every type of ophthalmic surgery
2020 Alcon launches AcrySof® IQ Vivity® IOL, a first of its kind wavefront-shaping presbyopia-correcting extended depth of focus IOL with excellent vision and a monofocal-like visual disturbance profile
2022 Alcon completes the acquisition of Ivantis and brings the Hydrus® Microstent, a minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS) device, into the Surgical portfolio
2022 Launch of SYSTANE® COMPLETE Preservative-Free Lubricant Eye Drops in an easy-to-use multi-dose bottle.
2022 Alcon announces the roll out of the CLAREON® family of IOLs, featuring the novel CLAREON material that can deliver consistent visual outcomes
2022 Alcon introduces Fidelis Virtual Reality (VR) Ophthalmic Surgical Simulator, a portable VR tool for cataract surgeons-in-training
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Alcon competitors
| Company name | Founded date | Revenue | Employee size | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ethicon | 1915 | $4.9B | 11,000 | - |
| Amgen | 1980 | $33.4B | 22,000 | 692 |
| Hospira | 2004 | $4.5B | 19,000 | - |
| Johnson & Johnson | 1886 | $88.8B | 134,500 | 2,016 |
| Bayer | 1973 | $17.0B | 20,735 | 3,369 |
| Regeneron | 1988 | $14.2B | 9,123 | 390 |
| Gilead Sciences | 1987 | $28.8B | 11,800 | 834 |
| Reckitt Benckiser | 1977 | $15.9B | 43,000 | 73 |
| CooperVision | 1958 | $1.1B | 25 | 19 |
| Smiths Medical - Wallace | 1985 | $409.4M | 1,125 | - |
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Alcon may also be known as or be related to Alcon, Alcon Inc, Alcon Inc., Alcon Laboratories, Inc. and Alcon Vision LLC.