Healthcare Industry News: contact lens solution
News Release - May 19, 2006
CDC Report Supports Bausch & Lomb's Decision to Recall MoistureLoc(R) Solution, Only Product Associated with Unusual Increase in Fusarium Infections
ROCHESTER, N.Y.--(HSMN NewsFeed)--May 19, 2006--Bausch & Lomb (NYSE:BOL ) said that the MMWR report issued today by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on its case control study of Fusarium keratitis infections among contact lens wearers affirms the company's decision to recall its MoistureLoc solution and should give consumers and eye care professionals confidence in ReNu MultiPlus® and ReNu MultiPurpose lens care products."The CDC's conclusion that the MoistureLoc formulation was the only product with a statistically significant association with reports of Fusarium keratitis in the cases they have evaluated should put to rest any further speculation that other products may also be implicated," said Ronald L. Zarrella, Bausch & Lomb chairman and CEO.
The U. S. Food and Drug Administration and the CDC have focused their investigations on the MoistureLoc formula because it was disproportionately represented in the case reports, as compared with any other product. Although certain patients have reported use of other contact lens solutions, including ReNu MultiPlus, the CDC's analysis does not indicate that these products are associated with significantly increased risk for disease.
ReNu MultiPlus and MultiPurpose are the brands more people worldwide have chosen for their contact lens care. Both products are made with entirely different formulations than MoistureLoc and each has a longstanding unsurpassed record of safety and effectiveness.
This news release contains, among other things, certain statements of a forward-looking nature relating to future events or the future business performance of Bausch & Lomb. Such statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties including, without limitation, those concerning global and local economic, political and sociological conditions; currency exchange rates; government pricing changes and initiatives with respect to healthcare products; changes in laws and regulations relating to the Company's products and the import and export of such products; product development and rationalization; enrollment and completion of clinical trials; the ability of the Company to obtain regulatory approvals; the impact of the matters described in this news release on sales of the Company's other lens care products or other products, the cost to the Company of recalling product, defending matters in litigation, investigations and future product testing and other related costs and expenses; the outcome of the Audit Committee's continuing independent investigations of events described in the Company's prior disclosures concerning those investigations; the outcome of PriceWaterhouseCoopers' quarterly review process in connection with the filing of the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the third quarter of fiscal 2005 and of the extended year-end review process in connection with the filing of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal 2005 and the expected, estimated adjustments described in this news release; the filing of the Company's 10-Q for third quarter of fiscal 2005 and its 10-K for fiscal 2005; the possibility that the market for the sale of certain products and services may not develop as expected; the financial well-being of key customers, development partners and suppliers; the successful execution of marketing strategies; continued efforts in managing and reducing costs and expenses; the successful completion and integration of business acquisitions; the Company's success in introducing and implementing its enterprise-wide information technology initiatives, including the corresponding impact on internal controls and reporting; the Company's success in the process of management testing, including evaluation of results; continued positive relations with third party financing sources and the risk factors listed from time to time in the Company's SEC filings, including but not limited to the Current Report on Form 8-K, dated June 14, 2002 and the Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 25, 2005.
Bausch & Lomb is the eye health company, dedicated to perfecting vision and enhancing life for consumers around the world. Its core businesses include soft and rigid gas permeable contact lenses and lens care products, and ophthalmic surgical and pharmaceutical products. The Bausch & Lomb name is one of the best known and most respected healthcare brands in the world. Founded in 1853, the Company is headquartered in Rochester, New York. Bausch & Lomb's 2004 revenues were $2.2 billion; it employs approximately 13,700 people worldwide and its products are available in more than 100 countries. More information about the Company is on the Bausch & Lomb Web site at www.bausch.com. Copyright Bausch & Lomb Incorporated.
Source: Bausch & Lomb
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