Staar Surgical
STAA
Health Care
2
exclusion reasons
2 themes
This page is part of our public exclusion list — a transparency tool that shows which companies we screen out and why. It is not investment advice, and it is not an accusation. But it is subject to change as our understanding of the facts evolves.
As a manufacturer of Class III medical devices, STAAR Surgical is required by the FDA and international regulators (EMA, NMPA) to conduct animal studies to prove biocompatibility and safety. SEC filings (Form 10-K) explicitly state animal and laboratory testing is required for IDE applications. STAAR is a signatory to the Swiss Transparency Agreement on Animal Research, confirming ongoing animal experiments at its Swiss R&D hub.
STAAR Surgical has a documented history of systemic quality control failures at its Monrovia facility. Though the 2014 Warning Letter was closed out in 2018, a pattern of "Culture of Quality" lapses and 2024-2025 inventory restatements in the China market indicate ongoing volatility in internal compliance and oversight.
Research Sources
5 organizations
Related Exclusions
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A digest of changes to our exclusion list — new additions, removals, and the evidence behind them. We review the list continuously as new evidence surfaces.
Companies appear on our exclusion list based on our investment judgment — not because they've done anything illegal. This is a difference of values and opinion, not an accusation of wrongdoing. Exclusion does not constitute a recommendation against investing in any company, and absence from the list does not constitute a recommendation to invest.
This information is provided for educational and transparency purposes only and should not be relied upon as investment advice. Data is drawn from independent watchdogs, NGOs, government registries, and Ethical Capital's ongoing research — see Research Sources for the full list.
Ethical Capital LLC is a state-registered investment adviser in Utah (CRD #316032). Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training.