Intelligent’s Research Lab Heading to Irvine

Chalk up a tiny win for Orange County’s bustling medical devices business.

Escalon Medical Corp. of Skillman, N.J., which purchased the former San Diego-based Intelligent Surgical Lasers earlier this year, moved Intelligent’s corporate offices to New Jersey. However, Escalon, which makes and markets ophthalmic devices and drugs, opted to move Intelligent’s laser research lab to Irvine.

Sterling C. Johnson, Escalon’s chief executive, said Orange County offered easy access to lots of suppliers that laser research requires, such as component makers and engineering firms. “New Jersey has a tremendous infrastructure for pharmaceutical products, but it’s not particularly strong for medical lasers,” Johnson noted.

Another reason?

Several of the key scientists live in Irvine--and have been commuting to San Diego for years. Now the only person out of luck is the San Diego engineer who must make the trip to Irvine.