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FORT WORTH, Texas, Nov. 10, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Alcon, the global leader in eye care and a division of Novartis, today unveiled new AIR OPTIX plus HydraGlyde monthly replacement contact lenses to eye care professionals at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Optometry (AAO) in Anaheim, CA. The contact lenses bring together two innovative technologies –  SmartShield Technology and HydraGlyde Moisture Matrix – for a unique combination of deposit protection and longer-lasting lens surface moisture.^6-9 AIR OPTIX plus HydraGlyde contact lenses support a comfortable lens-wearing experience.^10-11

SmartShield Technology is a patented, ultra-thin protective shield that helps the lens resist lipid deposits and delivers outstanding wettability.^12-15 It also helps the lens resist changes from everyday cosmetic product use.¹⁶ HydraGlyde Moisture Matrix is a wetting agent specifically designed for silicone hydrogel lenses that helps attract lens surface moisture and retain lens surface hydration.^17-18 In an in vitro study, AIR OPTIX plus HydraGlyde contact lenses provided longer-lasting wettability after 16 hours proving its ability to provide lens surface moisture benefits and lens surface hydration.^19-20

"We are excited to add AIR OPTIX plus HydraGlyde to our monthly replacement portfolio of products. Patients' needs, lifestyles, and environments are constantly evolving and many face challenges with their eyes, particularly lens wearers," said Sergio Duplan, Region President for North America at Alcon. "This new monthly replacement contact lens can provide the benefits of excellent deposit resistance and longer-lasting lens surface moisture to patients in a replacement schedule that promotes compliant wear."

This is the latest innovation in the AIR OPTIX family of monthly replacement contact lenses, whose comprehensive portfolio includes monthly replacement clear and color contact lenses, overnight and flexible wear options, toric and multifocal lens correction. AIR OPTIX plus HydraGlyde contact lenses are expected to be available to patients in the U.S. in late February of next year. The contact lenses will be available at launch with a power range of +8.00D to -12.00D, which includes both expanded plus and minus powers. 

"At Alcon, we are committed to helping people see, look and feel their best and this includes continuing to expand our innovative product portfolio," said Franck Leveiller, Senior Vice President, Global Head of Research and Development at Alcon. "Adding this exclusive lens surface moisture technology to AIR OPTIX brand contact lenses will provide eye care professionals a new option for their contact lens patients."

For more information about this innovation at AAO, please visit booth 411.

Disclaimer
The foregoing release contains forward-looking statements that can be identified by words such as "introduces," "will," "excited," "can," "launch," "committed," "continuing to expand," or similar terms, or by express or implied discussions regarding potential additional regulatory submissions and approvals, or launches of, Air Optix plus HydraGlyde monthly replacement contact lenses, or regarding potential future revenues from Air Optix plus HydraGlyde monthly replacement contact lenses. You should not place undue reliance on these statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on the current beliefs and expectations of management regarding future events, and are subject to significant known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. There can be no guarantee that Air Optix plus HydraGlyde monthly replacement contact lenses will be launched and available to patients in the United States within the scheduled time frame, or at all. Neither can there be any guarantee that Air Optix plus HydraGlyde monthly replacement contact lenses will be submitted and approved for sale in, or launched in, any additional markets, or at any particular time. Nor can there be any guarantee that Air Optix plus HydraGlyde monthly replacement contact lenses will be commercially successful in the future. In particular, management's expectations regarding Air Optix plus HydraGlyde monthly replacement contact lenses could be affected by, among other things, the uncertainties inherent in research and development, including unexpected regulatory actions or delays or government regulation generally; unexpected clinical trial results and additional analysis of existing clinical data; the company's ability to obtain or maintain proprietary intellectual property protection; current and future competing contact lens products; general economic and industry conditions; global trends toward health care cost containment, including ongoing pricing pressures; unexpected safety, quality or manufacturing issues, and other risks and factors referred to in Novartis AG's current Form 20-F on file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Novartis is providing the information in this press release as of this date and does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this press release as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

About Alcon
Alcon is the global leader in eye care. As a division of Novartis, we offer the broadest portfolio of products to enhance sight and improve people's lives. Our products touch the lives of more than 260 million people each year living with conditions like cataracts, glaucoma, retinal diseases and refractive errors, and there are millions more who are waiting for solutions to meet their eye care needs. Our purpose is reimagining eye care, and we do this through innovative products, partnerships with eye care professionals and programs that enhance access to quality eye care. Learn more at www.alcon.com.

Alcon is on Facebook. Like us at www.facebook.com/AlconEyeCare

About Novartis
Novartis provides innovative healthcare solutions that address the evolving needs of patients and societies. Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Novartis offers a diversified portfolio to best meet these needs: innovative medicines, eye care and cost-saving generic pharmaceuticals. Novartis is the only global company with leading positions in these areas. In 2015, the Group achieved net sales of USD 49.4 billion, while R&D throughout the Group amounted to approximately USD 8.9 billion (USD 8.7 billion excluding impairment and amortization charges). Novartis Group companies employ approximately 118,000 full-time-equivalent associates. Novartis products are available in more than 180 countries around the world. For more information, please visit http://www.novartis.com.

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References

1. Nash W, Gabriel M, Mowrey-Mckee M. A comparison of various silicone hydrogel lenses; lipid and protein deposition as a result of daily wear. Optom Vis Sci. 2010;87:E-abstract 105110.
2. Nash W & Gabriel M. Ex vivo analysis of cholesterol deposition for commercially available silicone hydrogel contact lenses using a fluorometric enzymatic assay. Eye & Contact Lens. 2014; 40(5): 277-282.
3. In vitro measurement of cholesterol deposition after 7 days of simulated wear; Alcon data on file, 2015. 1. Compared to AIR OPTIX^® AQUA sphere lenses.
4. Alcon data on file, 2014.
5. In vitro study over 16 hours to measure wetting substantivity; Alcon data on file, 2015. 
6. Nash W, Gabriel M, Mowrey-Mckee M. A comparison of various silicone hydrogel lenses; lipid and protein deposition as a result of daily wear. Optom Vis Sci. 2010;87:E-abstract 105110.
7. Nash W & Gabriel M. Ex vivo analysis of cholesterol deposition for commercially available silicone hydrogel contact lenses using a fluorometric enzymatic assay. Eye & Contact Lens. 2014; 40(5): 277-282.
8. Alcon data on file, 2014.
9. In vitro study over 16 hours to measure wetting substantivity; Alcon data on file, 2015. 
10. Eiden SB, Davis R, Bergenske P. Prospective study of lotrafilcon B lenses comparing 2 versus 4 weeks of wear for objective and subjective measures of health, comfort, and vision. Eye & Contact Lens. 2013;39(4):290-294.
11. In vivo study measuring comfort during lotrafilcon B wear at hour 6 of days 1 through 30, Alcon data on file, 2016.
12. Nash W, Gabriel M, Mowrey-Mckee M. A comparison of various silicone hydrogel lenses; lipid and protein deposition as a result of daily wear. Optom Vis Sci. 2010;87:E-abstract 105110.
13. Nash W & Gabriel M. Ex vivo analysis of cholesterol deposition for commercially available silicone hydrogel contact lenses using a fluorometric enzymatic assay. Eye & Contact Lens. 2014; 40(5): 277-282.
14. Alcon data on file, 2014.
15. In vitro study over 16 hours to measure wetting substantivity; Alcon data on file, 2015. 
16. Luensmann D, Yu M, Yang J, Srinivasan S, Jones L. Impact of cosmetics on the physical dimension and optical performance of silicone hydrogel contact lenses. Eye Contact Lens. 2015;41:218-227.
17. In vitro study over 16 hours to measure wetting substantivity; Alcon data on file, 2015. 
18. Alcon data on file, 2014.
19. In vitro study over 16 hours to measure wetting substantivity; Alcon data on file, 2015. 
20. Alcon data on file, 2014.

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SOURCE Novartis