Company Name¡GAlcon Pharmaceuticals LTD. Taiwan Branch
Address¡G4F., 119,PAO-CHUNG RD.,HSIN-TIEN CITY, TAIPEI COUNTY, TAIWAN, R.O.C
Telephone¡G(02)2917-2468
Fax¡G(02)2918-2193
General Manager¡GMr. Cimmons Kao |
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¡@ The Alcon Story - one of almost unparalleled success and growth - began in 1945 when two pharmacists pooled their meager resources to open a small pharmacy in Fort Worth, Texas. Combining the first syllable of each man's last name, Robert D. Alexander and William C. Conner (pictured left to right) christened their fledgling enterprise the Alcon Prescription Laboratory.
¡@ This was Alcon's beginning - today a greater than $2.55 billion global pharmaceutical company specializing in the discovery, development, manufacture and marketing of ophthalmic pharmaceutical, ophthalmic surgical, vision care and otic products.
¡@ The talents and vision of Bill Conner and Bob Alexander ultimately produced a success story unique in the annals of American entrepreneurship.
¡@ After closing the pharmacy for the day, Conner and Alexander often worked late into the night making sterile injectable vitamins. Rather than wait for business to come to them, the partners began calling on area physicians. They encouraged doctors to recommend their pharmacy while simultaneously selling their vitamin preparations and asking probing questions to uncover additional opportunities for their business.
¡@ Through conversations with eye specialists, the men discovered that no pharmaceutical company specialized in ophthalmic products. Patients were typically instructed to take their ophthalmic prescriptions to local pharmacists, who, with varying degrees of skill and accuracy, would then prepare them using distilled water and the drugs the doctors specified. Because the distilled water was often not sterile, contamination of the solutions was not uncommon. As recently as the 1950s, blindness occasionally resulted from infections triggered by the products compounded to treat ocular conditions.
¡@ Using equipment considered primitive by today's standards, Conner and Alexander began manufacturing sterile ophthalmic products. The partners incorporated their business in 1947 to raise capital and began promoting their products to ophthalmologists. Over the years, Alcon experienced steady growth. By 1970, sales had reached $25 million.
¡@ Throughout the 1970s, Alcon's small but productive research effort developed products specifically formulated for ophthalmology. Even the plastic dropper bottle, now universally used for ocular preparations, was an Alcon innovation.
¡@ Alcon's leadership in the ophthalmic marker was well established by 1977 when Nestle, the world's largest food company, headquartered in Switzerland, was exploring opportunities for acquisitions in the United States. Already extensively involved in the U.S. food industry, Nestle focused upon the health care field as an ideal opportunity for further diversification. The attributes Nestle sought in a health care company were a perfect description of Alcon: a company with a skilled management team, clearly defined research and marketing objectives, and the ability to convert investments in technology into new products.
¡@ Following its acquisition, Alcon launched a program of building and expanding plants in the United States, Belgium, Spain, Mexico, Brazil and France. Additionally, the company's research program became far more comprehensive than would be expected for a company of Alcon's size.
¡@ Nestle recognizes that each country, and even each business enterprise, has its own culture and customer relationships which have evolved over many years. Consequently, at Alcon, as at most Nestle companies, responsibility and authority for business strategy rests with the President and Chief Executive Officer and his staff. In the ensuing years, Alcon expanded its scope into the ophthalmic surgical marketplace through combining carefully targeted acquisitions with internal research and development.
¡@ By the time Alcon reached its 50th anniversary in 1997, it had already become the global leader in the ophthalmic marketplace. Ed Schollmaier, a major contributor to the strategic planning and growth for 25 years, had succeeded Bill Conner as President in 1972. In October 1997, Tim Sear, who for many years led the expansion of Alcon's International business, became the third President and Chief Executive Officer in Alcon's 50-year history.
¡@ In 2000, Alcon dramatically expanded its ophthalmic product line by acquiring Summit Autonomous, the most technologically advanced company specializing in the refractive surgical market. With this acquisition, Alcon added excimer lasers, microkeratomes and related technology, ensuring its position as the broadest ophthalmic product source for eye-care specialists.
¡@ With the vision of its founders intact and the strength and unwavering support of Nestle behind it, Alcon is uniquely positioned to continue its market leadership and rapid growth worldwide. |
