Alcon Completes Acquisition of Durezol and Zyclorin from Sirion

Completes Acquisition of Durezol and Zyclorin from Sirion

HUENENBERG, Switzerland - March 29, 2010 - Alcon

(NYSE: ACL), the world's leader in eye care, announced today that it

received regulatory approval and finalized the acquisition of the rights in the

United States for DUREZOL emulsion and the global rights, excluding Latin

America, for ZYCLORIN from Sirion Therapeutics, Inc. Alcon will

immediately assume all marketing, promotion and sales of

DUREZOL . Management said that it is continuing to evaluate options

to acquire ZIRGAN , an antiviral recently approved by the FDA for the treatment

of acute herpetic keratitis (corneal ulcers).

DUREZOL emulsion is a topical

ophthalmic corticosteroid used to treat postoperative inflammation and pain

associated with ocular surgery and received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug

Administration (FDA) in 2008. Currently under clinical investigation

to treat dry eye and other ocular surface diseases, ZYCLORIN is a topical

ophthalmic immunomodulator and immunosuppressive agent.

"This acquisition reinforces our

ability to drive growth in the near-term with the acquisition of DUREZOL and

add products to our long-term research pipeline with ZYCLORIN ," said Stuart

Raetzman, vice president, Global Marketing and area president for the United

States. "Durezol's unique capability to effectively and quickly treat both

inflammation and pain following ocular surgery makes it a great fit for Alcon's

leading product portfolio."

and glaucoma affect more than 24 million people age 40 and older in the United

States. Many of these people seek surgical treatment for these and

other eye conditions. Corticosteroids and non-steroidal

anti-inflammatory drugs are commonly used after eye surgery to manage

postoperative pain and inflammation. Complications can occur if

inflammation is left untreated and can interfere with a patient's visual

DUREZOL (difluprednate ophthalmic

emulsion) 0.05% is a topical ophthalmic corticosteroid for the treatment of

postoperative inflammation and pain associated with ocular

surgery. DUREZOL received approval from the FDA in 2008 and was the

first ophthalmic steroid to be approved for both postoperative inflammation and

pain. Clinical trials demonstrated that DUREZOL reduced ocular pain

and inflammation rapidly and effectively for patients following ocular

DUREZOL emulsion is a

difluorinated derivative of prednisolone with a recommended dosing regimen of

one drop four times daily beginning 24 hours after surgery and continuing

throughout the first two weeks of the postoperative period, followed by two

times daily for a week and then tapering off thereafter based on the

The most common ocular adverse

reactions occurring in 5-15% of subjects in clinical studies with DUREZOL

emulsion included corneal edema, ciliary and conjunctival hyperemia, eye pain,

photophobia, posterior capsule opacification, anterior chamber cells, anterior

chamber flare, conjunctival edema and blepharitis.

(cyclosporine) is a topical ophthalmic immunomodulator and immunosuppressive

agent. ZYCLORIN is an investigational drug and is not approved by

the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. It is being studied for the

treatment of ocular surface diseases, including dry eye, which affects millions

Inc. is the world's leading eye care company, with sales of approximately $6.5

billion in 2009. Alcon, which has been dedicated to the ophthalmic

industry for 65 years, researches, develops, manufactures and markets

pharmaceuticals, surgical equipment and devices, contacts lens solutions and

other vision care products that treat diseases, disorders and other conditions

of the eye. Alcon operates in 75 countries and sells products in 180

markets. For more information on Alcon, Inc., visit the Company's web

site at www.alcon.com.

Caution Concerning Forward-Looking

Statements. This press release may contain forward-looking statements

within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act

of 1995. Any forward- looking statements reflect the views of our

management as of the date of this press release with respect to future events

and are based on assumptions and subject to risks and uncertainties. Given these

uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking

statements. Except to the extent required under the federal securities laws and

the rules and regulations promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission,

we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any of these

forward-looking statements, whether to reflect new information or future events

or circumstances or otherwise.

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