Johnson & Johnson

Johnson & Johnson (J&J) is an American multinational corporation founded in 1886 that develops medical devices, pharmaceuticals, and consumer packaged goods. Its common stock is a component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, and the company is ranked No. 36 on the 2021 Fortune 500 list of the largest United States corporations by total revenue. Johnson & Johnson is one of the world's most valuable companies, and is one of only two U.S.-based companies that has a prime credit rating of AAA, higher than that of the United States government.

Johnson & Johnson is headquartered in New Brunswick, New Jersey, the consumer division being located in Skillman, New Jersey. The corporation includes some 250 subsidiary companies with operations in 60 countries and products sold in over 175 countries. Johnson & Johnson had worldwide sales of $93.8 billion during the calendar year 2021.

Johnson & Johnson's brands include numerous household names of medications and first aid supplies. Among its well-known consumer products are the Band-Aid Brand line of bandages, Tylenol medications, Johnson's Baby products, Neutrogena skin and beauty products, Clean & Clear facial wash and Acuvue contact lenses. Johnson & Johnson's pharmaceutical arm is Janssen Pharmaceuticals.

The company announced in November 2021 that it would split into two publicly traded companies: one focused on consumer products and the other on pharmaceuticals and medical technologies.

Johnson & Johnson is an American multinational corporation that was founded in 1886 by three brothers: Robert Wood Johnson I, James Wood Johnson, and Edward Mead Johnson. The company was initially established to produce surgical dressings and sterile sutures, which were in high demand at the time.

In its early years, Johnson & Johnson focused on expanding its product line to include other medical supplies and equipment. In 1887, the company introduced a line of dental floss, which was the first commercially available dental floss in the United States. The company also began producing surgical instruments, such as scalpels and forceps, and other medical devices.

In the early 1900s, Johnson & Johnson began to expand its operations beyond the United States. In 1903, the company opened a subsidiary in the United Kingdom, and in 1907, it established a subsidiary in Canada. By the end of World War I, Johnson & Johnson had subsidiaries in several countries around the world, including France, Germany, Italy, and Australia.

During World War I, Johnson & Johnson played a significant role in supplying medical equipment and supplies to the United States military. The company produced millions of surgical dressings and other medical supplies for the war effort, and its contributions earned it several awards and commendations from the U.S. government.

Throughout its early history, Johnson & Johnson also focused on developing a culture of innovation and social responsibility. In 1906, the company established the first sanitary laboratory in the United States, which was dedicated to ensuring the safety and purity of its products. The company also introduced a profit-sharing plan for its employees in 1917, which was one of the first of its kind in the United States.

In the 1920s and 1930s, Johnson & Johnson introduced several new products, including Band-Aids, which were invented by Earle Dickson, a company employee, in 1921. The company also began producing surgical gloves, first aid kits, and other medical supplies.

During World War II, Johnson & Johnson once again played a significant role in supplying medical equipment and supplies to the United States military. The company produced millions of surgical dressings, bandages, and other medical supplies for the war effort, and its contributions earned it the Army-Navy "E" Award for excellence in production.

In the post-war years, Johnson & Johnson continued to expand its operations and diversify its product line. The company acquired several companies, including McNeil Laboratories, which produced Tylenol, a pain reliever that would become one of the company's most successful products. Johnson & Johnson also began to focus on the development of prescription drugs, launching several new products in the 1950s and 1960s.

Throughout this period, Johnson & Johnson remained committed to social responsibility and innovation. The company established the Johnson & Johnson Credo in 1943, which outlined the company's commitment to putting patients and employees first, as well as to supporting the communities where it operated. The company also continued to invest in research and development, launching several new products and technologies that would become industry standards.

In the 1960s, Johnson & Johnson continued its expansion into new markets, including Europe, Asia, and Africa. The company also introduced several new products, including baby shampoo and dental floss. In the 1970s, Johnson & Johnson faced a crisis when several deaths were linked to its Tylenol pain reliever. The company responded by introducing tamper-resistant packaging, which became the industry standard.

In the 1980s, Johnson & Johnson continued to expand its portfolio, acquiring several new companies, including Neutrogena, Ethicon, and Janssen Pharmaceutica. In the 1990s, the company continued to innovate, introducing several new products, including the first disposable contact lenses and the first antipsychotic medication for schizophrenia.

In 2006, Johnson & Johnson acquired Pfizer's Consumer Healthcare division, which included brands such as Listerine and Sudafed. 

In the early 2020s, Johnson & Johnson was one of several companies to develop a COVID-19 vaccine. Its vaccine was granted emergency use authorisation by the FDA in February 2021. However, in April 2021, the company faced another crisis when its vaccine was linked to a rare blood clotting disorder. The company temporarily paused distribution of the vaccine while it worked with regulators to investigate the issue. In July 2021, the FDA added a warning label to the vaccine, indicating the risk of blood clots. Johnson & Johnson acquired Momenta Pharmaceuticals in 2020 and launching several new products in 2021, including a new diabetes medication.

The mission of Johnson & Johnson is to improve or upgrade customers' quality of life using a wide range of products. This mission is rooted in the company's Credo, which states that their first responsibility is to the patients, doctors and nurses, to mothers and fathers and all others who use their products and services. 

Johnson & Johnson believes that good health is the foundation of vibrant lives, thriving communities and forward progress, and they strive to keep people well at every age and every stage of life. The company also believes that consumers, employees and the community are all equally important.

The vision of Johnson & Johnson is to be the world's most trusted and respected healthcare company. The company aims to use its expertise and innovation to transform the healthcare industry and improve the lives of people around the world. 

Johnson & Johnson seeks to create value for all of its stakeholders, including patients, customers, employees, shareholders, and the communities in which it operates. The company is committed to upholding the highest ethical standards and fostering a culture of diversity, inclusion, and belonging. Ultimately, Johnson & Johnson's vision is to make a positive impact on the world by advancing health and wellbeing for all.

Johnson and Johnson operates through three business segments: Consumer, pharmaceutical, medical devices, and diagnostics.

The Consumer segment includes a range of products used in the baby care, skin care, oral care, wound care, and women’s health care fields, as well as nutritional and over-the-counter pharmaceutical products. 

The Baby Care franchise includes JOHNSON’S Baby line of products. Major brands in the Skin Care franchise include the AVEENO, CLEAN & CLEAR, JOHNSON’S Adult, NEUTROGENA, RoC, LUBRIDERM, Beijing Dabao Cosmetics Co., Ltd., and Vendome product lines. 

The Oral Care franchise includes the LISTERINE and REACH oral care lines of products. Major brands in the Women’s Health franchise are the CAREFREE Pantiliners and STAYFREE sanitary protection products.

The Pharmaceutical segment includes products in the following therapeutic areas: anti-infective, antipsychotic, cardiovascular, contraceptive, dermatology, gastrointestinal, hematology, immunology, neurology, oncology, pain management, urology, and virology. These products are distributed directly to retailers, wholesalers, and healthcare professionals for prescription use by the general public. 

Key products in the Pharmaceutical segment include: REMICADE (infliximab), a biologic approved for the treatment of Crohn’s disease, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, ulcerative colitis, and use in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, TOPAMAX (topiramate), approved for adjunctive and monotherapy use in epilepsy, as well as for the prophylactic treatment of migraines, PROCRIT (Epoetin alfa, sold outside the U.S. as EPREX), a biotechnology-derived product that stimulates red blood cell production, RISPERDAL oral (risperidone), a medication that treats the symptoms of schizophrenia, bipolar mania, and irritability associated with autistic behavior in indicated patients.

The Medical Devices and Diagnostics segment includes a range of products distributed to wholesalers, hospitals, and retailers, used principally in the professional fields by physicians, nurses, therapists, hospitals, diagnostic laboratories, and clinics. These products include Cordis’ circulatory disease management products, DePuy’s orthopaedic joint reconstruction, spinal care, and sports medicine products, Ethicon’s surgical care and women’s health products, Ethicon Endo-Surgery’s minimally invasive surgical products, LifeScan’s blood glucose monitoring and insulin delivery products, Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics’ professional diagnostic products, and Vistakon’s disposable contact lenses.