CL companies settle dispute

Under the terms of the settlement, Alcon will make an up-front payment to B&L of $25m, or approximately $0.27 per share, which will be recorded as income in the first quarter of this year. Additionally, Alcon will pay B&L a stream of royalties over the next eight years for a worldwide licence under the B&L patent for the simultaneous use of a chemical disinfecting solution with an enzyme cleaning product for contact lens care. Both parties have agreed that no additional details will be provided. The settlement agreement announced today resolves the patent infringement case B&L filed against Alcon in October 1994, in the US District Court for the Western District of New York, concerning B&L US patent No. 5,096,607.