Significant Capacity Expansion Supports Surging U.S. and Global Growth
PHOENIX, August 22, 2019—The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Paragon Vision Science’s newly-constructed contact lens manufacturing site in suburban Phoenix, paving the way for the company’s ongoing domestic and global expansion. Paragon is part of CooperVision Specialty EyeCare.
The Gilbert, Ariz. facility will produce advanced ortho-k products such as Paragon CRT ® for use in the United States. The new site is more than double the size of the company’s current plant in nearby Mesa, Ariz. The Mesa location will continue to fabricate lenses for global markets after U.S. production is transferred to Gilbert over the next several months.
“Our investment of time and funds into the Gilbert manufacturing facility is central to Paragon’s ability to meet unprecedented demand for our pioneering ortho-k design,” said Rich Jeffries, President of Paragon. “This new facility will also help us maintain our exceptional product quality and satisfaction ratings, which are driving our growth worldwide.”
A new survey indicates that 97 percent of Paragon CRT ® patients report their experience either meets or exceeds their expectations 1 . Paragon’s net promoter score places it in the same tier as many of the world’s most admired and respected brands 2 .
The Gilbert facility has been outfitted with new manufacturing and packaging lines, and the company expects to add a fourth production shift as well as expanding its quality team. The enlarged footprint and employee base will enable near-term double-digit capacity growth, with the ability for future increases.
In keeping with CooperVision’s commitment to sustainable practices, the site incorporates an environmentally responsible cooling system, as well as other features such as energy- conserving LED lighting and a drinking water filtration system that will encourage refillable water bottle use.
Paragon recently announced that its dedicated practice management and account management teams in Northern California, Southern California, New York/New Jersey, Houston/Dallas and Phoenix were fully operational. The teams support eye care professionals to more fully integrate Paragon CRT ® and other contact lenses into their practices, including customised clinical educational experiences for individual practitioners and staff with a focus on hands-on collaboration.
CooperVision Specialty EyeCare accelerates eye care professionals’ access to innovative products that help improve the way people see each day, with a focus on the development of myopia management approaches and visual correction of irregular corneas. It encompasses Paragon Vision Sciences, Blanchard Contact Lenses, Soflex, and Procornea, which operate independently while sharing technical, clinical and commercial knowledge, benefitting from CooperVision’s global presence and infrastructure.
1 Online survey of U.S. consumers wearing Paragon CRT ® , n=295. Conducted July 2019.
2 Data on file.
About CooperVision
CooperVision, a unit of The Cooper Companies, Inc. (NYSE:COO), is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of soft contact lenses. The Company produces a full array of monthly, two-week and daily disposable contact lenses, all featuring advanced materials and optics. CooperVision has a strong heritage of solving the toughest vision challenges such as astigmatism and presbyopia; and offers the most complete collection of spherical, toric and multifocal products available. Through a combination of innovative products and focused practitioner support, the company brings a refreshing perspective to the marketplace, creating real advantages for customers and wearers. For more information, visit coopervision.com.
About The Cooper Companies
The Cooper Companies, Inc. ("Cooper") is a global medical device company publicly traded on the NYSE (NYSE:COO). Cooper operates through two business units, CooperVision and CooperSurgical. CooperVision brings a refreshing perspective on vision care with a commitment to developing a wide range of high-quality products for contact lens wearers and providing focused practitioner support. CooperSurgical is committed to advancing the health of women, babies and families with its diversified portfolio of products and services focusing on medical devices and fertility & genomics. Headquartered in Pleasanton, Calif., Cooper has more than 12,000 employees with products sold in over 100 countries. For more information, please visit www.coopercos.com.
About Brien Holden Vision Institute Foundation
Brien Holden Vision Institute Foundation is a global non-profit, non-governmental organisation who since 1998 has delivered sustainable eye care services, education and training programs in over 60 countries, providing eye care to over 13 million people at more than 400 eye care sites and training 250,000 eye care personnel.
We believe sight is a fundamental right for everyone, everywhere. Globally there are 1.2 billion people who are blind or vision impaired because they don’t have access to eye care. Our mission is to develop solutions for vision care and eliminate vision impairment and avoidable blindness, thereby reducing poverty and suffering.
Media Contact
Joe Tanner, Professional Services Manager, ANZ
Ph: +61 457 800 468
jtanner@au.coopervision.com