Top Device Companies

Alcon, Becton Dickinson Major Medical-Device Givers To Haiti Relief

Becton, Dickinson and Alcon Laboratories are medical-device makers who, along with several drug makers, have contributed millions to earthquake-devastated Haiti. In general, health care companies are estimated to have donated more than $66 million in products and money to the nation since the January disaster. Of that amount, Alcon donated $3 million worth of eye products and BD $5 million worth of equipment, including catheters, needles and syringes. (Click here for more)

“Health Companies Give $66 Million For Haiti Relief” – Bloomberg (AP) (7/12/10)

Medical device manufacturers facing many challenges: from the rising clout of group purchasing organizations (GPOs) to payment bundling and physicians' growing allegiance with hospitals in product price negotiations. Get all the answers now in new Medtech Insight's new 24-page Special Report: Medical Device Landscape: How regulatory changes and cost control measures are reshaping the industry. Available for purchase now!

Alcon IDS Panel Creates $50 Million Trust For Novartis Buyout Bid Fight

Alcon is preparing for a legal showdown over a takeover bid by drug maker Novartis by establishing a $50 million litigation trust. Alcon’s independent-director committee set up the fund as part of an effort to protect minority shareholders as the deal unfolds. Switzerland-based Novartis has a deal to buy Nestle’s majority stake in Alcon, and wants to pay less per-share for the remaining 23 percent of stock. The IDC is fighting with Novartis over voting procedures to be followed. (Click here for more)

“Alcon Directors Take New Step To Protect Minorities” – Reuters (7/8/10)

Medical device manufacturers facing many challenges: from the rising clout of group purchasing organizations (GPOs) to payment bundling and physicians' growing allegiance with hospitals in product price negotiations. Get all the answers now in new Medtech Insight's new 24-page Special Report: Medical Device Landscape: How regulatory changes and cost control measures are reshaping the industry. Available for purchase now!

Alcon To Offer $361.5 Million For LenSX Lasers, Cataract Surgery Leader

Alcon said it plans to acquire LenSx Lasers for $361.5 million to get its technology for improving cataract removal. Alcon itself is scheduled to be taken over later this year by Novartis, a Switzerland-based drug maker. LenSx’s “femtosecond” laser technology received the FDA’s first approval of such lasers for removing cataracts. The Alcon offer could reach $382.5 million if LenSx meets certain conditions, such as reaching revenue milestones. (Click here for more)

“Alcon To Buy Laser-Surgery Firm LenSx For $362 Million” – Reuters (7/6/10)

Medical device manufacturers facing many challenges: from the rising clout of group purchasing organizations (GPOs) to payment bundling and physicians' growing allegiance with hospitals in product price negotiations. Get all the answers now in new Medtech Insight's new 24-page Special Report: Medical Device Landscape: How regulatory changes and cost control measures are reshaping the industry. Available for purchase now!

Alcon Sets Shareholder Vote On Nominees Of Control-Seeking Novartis

Alcon scheduled an Aug.16 shareholder meeting to vote whether to add five candidates for its board proposed by Swiss drug maker Novartis, which earlier proposed buying Alcon. The independent committee of the Alcon board feared allowing the five to join the board would give Novartis the power to vote for takeover, according to sources. Novartis bought Nestle’s 52 percent stake in Alcon in January to add to its own 25 percent stake, then proposed buying the remaining 23 percent from shareholders. The Alcon board committee was concerned the offered price was too low. (Click here for more – a subscription may be required)

“Alcon Sets Vote On Novartis Nominees” – Wall Street Journal (7/1/10)

Medical device manufacturers facing many challenges: from the rising clout of group purchasing organizations (GPOs) to payment bundling and physicians' growing allegiance with hospitals in product price negotiations. Get all the answers now in new Medtech Insight's new 24-page Special Report: Medical Device Landscape: How regulatory changes and cost control measures are reshaping the industry. Available for purchase now!

Alcon IDC Must Vote On Novartis Bid Ahead Of Board, Adviser Says

Alcon’s committee of independent directors must give its approval before Novartis can buy the company for $11.2 billion, an Alcon adviser said. Novartis of Swizerland has proposed to buy a majority of Alcon stock now owned by Nestle, but the independent directors committee of Alcon said the Novartis offer for the remaining 23 percent of the company was too low. The adviser said the Alcon board would not legally be able to decide the matter without IDC action. Click here for more

“Novartis Needs Alcon Directors’ OK For Buyout-Adviser” – Reuters (6/28/10)

Medical device manufacturers facing many challenges: from the rising clout of group purchasing organizations (GPOs) to payment bundling and physicians' growing allegiance with hospitals in product price negotiations. Get all the answers now in new Medtech Insight's new 24-page Special Report: Medical Device Landscape: How regulatory changes and cost control measures are reshaping the industry. Available for purchase now!

Alcon, Advanced Medical Optics, Kinetic Defy Device-Sales Downturn

Alcon, Advanced Medical Optics and Kinetic Concepts are among a few medical-device makers that have bucked the trend in their industry and fared well under the recent economic downturn. Alcon, which makes eye-surgery devices and drugs, did well enough to attract a 25 percent investment by Novartis of Switzerland. Advanced Medical, which makes eye-correction systems, drew attention from Abbott Laboratories, which bought the company. Kinetic Concepts has moved into a similar position, according to a key Wall Street analyst. (Click here for more – a subscription may be required)

“Best On The Street Stock Analysts: Medical Equipment” – Wall Street Journal (5/25/10)

Medical device manufacturers facing many challenges: from the rising clout of group purchasing organizations (GPOs) to payment bundling and physicians' growing allegiance with hospitals in product price negotiations. Get all the answers now in new Medtech Insight's new 24-page Special Report: Medical Device Landscape: How regulatory changes and cost control measures are reshaping the industry. Available for purchase now!

Alcon Settles With Synergetics, Ending $100 Million Monopoly Suit

Alcon Laboratories has settled a lawsuit with Synergetics, with Alcon getting rights to sell the other company’s products in a deal worth $32 million. The two companies agreed that Synergetics would drop its antitrust suit against Alcon, based in Switzerland, and its U.S. unit, Alcon Laboratories. The suit alleged Alcon used its monopoly power to dampen purchases of Synergetics products that could compete against Alcon’s own surgical illumination sources and accessories. The Synergetics suit sought $100 million. (Click here for more)

“Synergetics, Alcon Ink $32 Million Licensing Deal, Settle Suit” – St. Louis Business Journal (4/28/10)

Medical device manufacturers facing many challenges: from the rising clout of group purchasing organizations (GPOs) to payment bundling and physicians' growing allegiance with hospitals in product price negotiations. Get all the answers now in new Medtech Insight's new 24-page Special Report: Medical Device Landscape: How regulatory changes and cost control measures are reshaping the industry. Available for purchase now!

Alcon Director Resistance To Novartis Dims Analyst Views In Support

Some Alcon shareholders are not as keen as Novartis and some analysts on the drug maker’s proposal to take over the device maker. Alcon makes eye surgery devices, but Novartis seeks to diversify and expand. So it offered to buy all of the Alcon shares it does not already own for $28.1 billion. Novartis owns 25 percent of Alcon and proposes to exercise an option to buy 52 percent more for $28.1 billion and later buy the remaining 23 percent, closing later this year. Independent directors of Alco have criticized the plan, making the acquisition less sensible to analysts. (Click here for more)

“Novartis Expands With Alcon; Some Shareholders Balk” – Orange County Business Journal (1/25/10)

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Alcon Buyout Bid By Novartis Opposed By Alcon Directors

Alcon directors are resisting a bid by Novartis to buy the rest of Alcon and its eye-care products for $39.3 billion. Alcon, founded in the United States and listed on the New York Stock Exchange, is registered in Switzerland along with Novartis. Both firms operate under Swiss law governing stock purchases. Alcon’s independent directors oppose the bid by Novartis, which also is buying the 52 percent stake owned by Nestle to give it the other 77 percent of Alcon. (Click here for more)

“Alcon Directors Criticize Novartis Takeover Tactics” – New York Times (Reuters) (1/5/10)

JUST PUBLISHED: Medical Device Market 2009: Interventional Cardiology - Find out who’s going beyond catheters and drug-eluting stents in this vibrant space with this 86-page Special Report previously published in IN VIVO: The Business & Medicine Report. Order yours now!

Alcon To Buy Optonol, Glaucoma Treatment Implant

Alcon of Switzerland said it would buy Optonol of Israel to obtain its surgical implants for treating glaucoma. Alcon CEO Kevin Buehler said the Optonol shunt, already approved in major medical device markets, is a good fit for Alcon’s growth strategy. The company expects the purchase, for an unspecified amount, to close by the end of 2010’s first quarter. (Click here for more)

“Swiss Eye Drug Maker Alcon Acquires Optonol Ltd.” – Seattle Times (AP) (12/14/09)

JUST PUBLISHED: Medical Device Market 2009: Interventional Cardiology - Find out who’s going beyond catheters and drug-eluting stents in this vibrant space with this 86-page Special Report previously published in IN VIVO: The Business & Medicine Report. Order yours now!