Founded in 1947, Alcon Laboratories, Inc. is the world's largest ophthalmic pharmaceutical and medical device specialty company. Alcon Laboratories, Inc. is the world's largest ophthalmic pharmaceutical and medical device company with subsidiaries in more than 75 countries and regions, more than 15,000 employees, five research and development centers, 14 manufacturing plants, and product sales in more than 180 countries and regions. Alcon develops, manufactures and markets ophthalmic pharmaceuticals, ophthalmic surgical devices, contact lens-related care products and other consumer eye care products for the treatment of disease and discomfort. Alcon is involved in all areas of ophthalmic products, except that it is not in the business of manufacturing and marketing eyeglasses and contact lens products.
With the insight of Alcon's top executives and the unwavering support of Nestlé, Alcon has maintained its leadership position in the ophthalmology marketplace and has grown rapidly worldwide, topping the industry with sales of more than $6.3 billion in 2008. Over the next five years, Alcon plans to invest $3 billion in research and development, which the company believes will be the largest research investment in ophthalmology. In addition, Alcon has been ranked for several years in Fortune magazine's annual "100 Best Companies to Work For" survey.
While the company's primary focus is on providing the best products and solutions for treating eye diseases and conditions, Alcon is also committed to reducing preventable blindness worldwide. Over the past three years, Alcon has donated $136 million in cash and products to charitable activities worldwide, including low-income patient assistance programs and sponsorship of 1,200 medical missions to help restore sight to those who do not have access to treatment for eye diseases. With physician training centers in 72 countries, Alcon is able to provide ongoing training in the latest eye care techniques, with the majority of these centers located in emerging markets. In addition, Alcon strives to reduce the environmental impact of its manufacturing, with programs such as product return and recycling, material declarations, life cycle analysis and product stewardship.
Alcon (China) Ophthalmic Products Co., Ltd. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Alcon Inc. established in China in 1995. It currently employs more than 1,000 people and operates nine offices, and sells its products throughout the country, including remote areas such as Xinjiang and Tibet. As a member of the Alcon family, Alcon (China) Ophthalmic Products Co., Ltd. has made unremitting efforts to promote the development of China's ophthalmology industry over the past ten years by adhering to the consistent tenet of Alcon Inc. Alcon (China) Ophthalmic Products Co., Ltd. will keep in mind its commitment to ophthalmologists and patients, strengthen cooperation with Chinese ophthalmologists, and join hands *** to create a brilliant tomorrow.
Alcon (China) works closely with the Chinese Medical Association Ophthalmology Branch, organizing academic symposiums of various scales and types, the National Ophthalmology Annual Meeting, as well as international ophthalmology conferences, creating and building platforms for academic exchange activities for domestic ophthalmologists, and making unremitting efforts for the promotion of ophthalmology career development in China. At the same time, Alcon (China) also cooperates with the China Disabled Persons' Federation, Health Express and other charitable organizations to support various poverty alleviation projects, contributing to the prevention and treatment of blindness in China.