Johnson & Johnson

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A multinational healthcare company spanning pharmaceuticals, medical technologies, and consumer health brands.

Last updated November 1, 2026

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Overview

Johnson & Johnson is an American multinational healthcare company founded in 1886 by brothers Robert Wood Johnson, James Wood Johnson, and Edward Mead Johnson. It began by manufacturing sterile surgical dressings at a time when antiseptic surgery was still becoming established, then expanded into wound care, first-aid supplies, maternal and infant products, prescription medicines, diagnostics, and medical devices. The company is headquartered in New Brunswick, New Jersey, and its shares trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol JNJ. The company’s early identity was built around practical products designed to make medical treatment safer and more accessible. Its founders were influenced by Joseph Lister’s antiseptic principles and introduced ready-to-use sterile gauze, cotton, sutures, dressings, and surgical manuals. Johnson & Johnson also produced early first-aid kits and supplied medical materials during military conflicts and natural disasters. In 1894, it entered baby care with Johnson’s Baby Powder, beginning a consumer-health franchise that later included baby soap, lotion, oil, and other products. Several of the company’s best-known innovations emerged from the combination of existing medical materials. In 1920, employee Earle Dickson created an adhesive bandage by pairing adhesive tape with gauze. The product was commercialized as Band-Aid Brand Adhesive Bandages in 1921 and became one of the company’s most recognizable consumer brands. Other historic product lines included Johnson’s Baby products, Listerine, Neutrogena, Aveeno, Motrin, Neosporin, Tylenol, and Clean & Clear. Many consumer brands have subsequently been reorganized, divested, or transferred as the company has concentrated its corporate structure. Johnson & Johnson’s pharmaceutical and medical-technology businesses grew through internal research and acquisitions. The 1959 acquisition of McNeil Laboratories brought Tylenol into the company. The 1961 acquisition of Janssen Pharmaceuticals established a major pharmaceutical platform, while later transactions expanded the company’s capabilities in orthopedics, cardiovascular care, surgery, vision, diagnostics, vaccines, and specialty medicines. Major acquisitions included DePuy, Pfizer’s consumer-health business, Crucell, Actelion, and Abbott Medical Optics. The company is particularly associated with its corporate Credo, written by Robert Wood Johnson II in 1943. The Credo places responsibilities to patients, consumers, employees, communities, and shareholders within a broader framework of corporate decision-making. It has been repeatedly invoked in discussions of product safety, crisis response, research ethics, and corporate governance. In 2021, Johnson & Johnson separated its consumer-health operations into a new publicly traded company, Kenvue, which began operating as an independent company in 2023. Johnson & Johnson retained its pharmaceutical and medical-technology businesses. The continuing company is therefore primarily a pharmaceutical and medical-technology corporation, although some widely recognized consumer brands remain historically associated with the Johnson & Johnson name. Its pharmaceutical portfolio includes innovative medicines in areas such as oncology, immunology, neuroscience, infectious disease, and pulmonary hypertension. Its medical-technology activities include surgery, orthopedics, cardiovascular and electrophysiology products, vision care, and specialized devices. Johnson & Johnson has also faced major legal and reputational challenges. The 1982 Tylenol tampering crisis became a frequently cited example of consumer-product crisis management after contaminated capsules caused deaths in the Chicago area. The company undertook a large recall and introduced stronger tamper-evident packaging. Later litigation concerned talc products, opioid marketing, medical devices, and other matters. These controversies have generated substantial legal exposure and continuing de…

History

Johnson & Johnson was established in 1886 in New Brunswick, New Jersey, by Robert Wood Johnson I and his brothers James Wood Johnson and Edward Mead Johnson Sr. The founders adapted emerging antiseptic principles to commercial healthcare products, producing sterile surgical dressings and related supplies. This origin distinguished the company from ordinary merchants and gave it a mission closely tied to improving the safety and reliability of medical treatment. During its first decades, the company broadened its catalogue with first-aid materials, surgical supplies, maternity products, and educational material about antiseptic wound care. International expansion followed, including operations in Canada and the United Kingdom. In 1921, Johnson & Johnson introduced the BAND-AID Brand adhesive bandage, which became one of the best-known household healthcare products in the world. The company also developed baby-care, oral-care, wound-care, and over-the-counter medicine businesses, creating a consumer-health presence alongside its professional medical activities. In 1943, Robert Wood Johnson II wrote Our Credo. Rather than treating profit as the only corporate obligation, the document described responsibilities to patients, doctors and nurses, employees, communities, and shareholders. The credo became a defining part of the organization’s culture and was repeatedly invoked in discussions of product quality, corporate conduct, and crisis response. Johnson & Johnson became publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange in 1944. The company entered pharmaceuticals and expanded its research capabilities through internal development and acquisitions. The creation and growth of Janssen helped establish a major prescription-medicine platform, while later transactions brought capabilities in immunology, oncology, infectious disease, neuroscience, cardiovascular medicine, and other specialties. Medical devices likewise became a core business, covering surgery, orthopaedics, cardiovascular intervention, neurovascular treatment, and eye health. The ACUVUE franchise made the company a major participant in disposable contact lenses and connected consumer marketing with regulated vision care. The 1982 Tylenol tampering deaths became one of the most consequential events in the company’s history. Johnson & Johnson recalled Tylenol products nationally, cooperated with authorities, and supported the adoption of tamper-resistant packaging. The response was costly but helped establish a model for communicating with consumers during a product-safety emergency. Later decades brought more difficult legal and reputational challenges, including litigation related to talc-containing products, opioid marketing, and certain medical devices. These matters remain part of the company’s public history and demonstrate the limits of relying on corporate reputation alone. In the twenty-first century, acquisitions became an important mechanism for adding technologies and therapeutic platforms. Johnson & Johnson acquired Actelion in 2017, Auris Health in 2019, Abiomed in 2022, and announced the acquisition of Shockwave Medical in 2024. In parallel, the group reorganized its consumer-health operations. The consumer business was separated into Kenvue, which launched as a separately traded company in 2023 and owns or operates many of the consumer brands historically associated with Johnson & Johnson. The parent company consequently presents itself primarily through Innovative Medicine and MedTech. The Japanese business began local operations in 1961 and established Johnson & Johnson K.K. in 1978. Its activities have included medical devices, consumer healthcare, pharmaceuticals-related activities, and vision care. ACUVUE marketing in Japan has targeted young consumers, contact-lens beginners, and people requiring astigmatism correction, while corporate and medical communications have addressed stroke prevention, lung cancer, and shared treatment decisions. Today Johnson & Johnson is an active global healthcare company whose identity rests on scientific research, regulated medical products, large-scale acquisitions, and the continuing influence of Our Credo.

2023
Kenvue separation and IPO
[12]Kenvue separation and IPOkenvue.com
The consumer-health business was separated into Kenvue, which began trading on the NYSE under KVUE.
2022
Abiomed acquisition announced
[11]Abiomed acquisition announcedjnj.com
The company announced a major acquisition to expand its cardiovascular medical-technology portfolio.
2017
Actelion acquisition
[10]Actelion acquisitionjnj.com
Johnson & Johnson acquired Actelion, adding a major pharmaceutical platform focused particularly on pulmonary hypertension and related medicines.
1982
Tylenol tampering crisis
[5]Johnson & Johnson Japanese Wikipedia articleja.wikipedia.org
Following deaths caused by product tampering, the company recalled Tylenol products and supported tamper-resistant packaging.
1961
Japanese operations begin
[9]Japanese operations beginconcord-career.com
Johnson & Johnson began full-scale business operations in Japan, including local marketing and production activities.
1944
New York Stock Exchange listing
[5]Johnson & Johnson Japanese Wikipedia articleja.wikipedia.org
Johnson & Johnson became a publicly traded company on the New York Stock Exchange.
1943
Our Credo adopted
[2]Our Credojnj.com
Robert Wood Johnson II wrote the company’s statement of responsibilities to patients, employees, communities, and shareholders.
1921
BAND-AID Brand introduced
[1]Johnson & Johnson company historyjnj.com
The company introduced the adhesive bandage that became the BAND-AID Brand, extending its healthcare products into everyday household use.
1886
Company founded
[1]Johnson & Johnson company historyjnj.com
Robert Wood Johnson I, James Wood Johnson, and Edward Mead Johnson Sr. established Johnson & Johnson in New Jersey to manufacture sterile surgical dressings and related medical supplies.

Products and positioning

Science-led, patient-centered healthcare company combining pharmaceutical innovation with medical technology. Consumer brands historically formed a major part of its public identity, but the parent company’s post-2023 structure is centered on Innovative Medicine and MedTech.

Prescription pharmaceuticals
Innovative Medicine
Johnson & Johnson’s pharmaceutical business develops and commercializes prescription medicines in immunology, oncology, neuroscience, infectious disease, cardiovascular and metabolic disease, and pulmonary hypertension. The business has historically operated through Janssen-branded organizations in many markets and is now presented under the Innovative Medicine identity.
Medical devices and technology
MedTech
MedTech includes technologies used in surgery, orthopaedics, cardiovascular and neurovascular intervention, and other hospital settings. Its portfolio has expanded through acquisitions and combines implants, procedural tools, digital capabilities, and minimally invasive treatment systems.
Contact lenses · 1987
ACUVUE
ACUVUE is Johnson & Johnson’s vision-care franchise and includes disposable soft contact lenses for daily wear, astigmatism correction, and other vision needs. The brand is marketed through regulated channels involving eye-care professionals and is especially prominent in Japan and other international markets.
Adhesive bandages · 1921
BAND-AID Brand
Introduced in 1921, BAND-AID Brand adhesive bandages became a mass-market expression of Johnson & Johnson’s original wound-care expertise. The range has expanded beyond a basic strip bandage into products for different wound sizes, levels of protection, and household first-aid situations. In many markets the brand is now part of Kenvue.
Oral care
Listerine
Listerine is an antiseptic mouthwash and oral-care brand historically marketed by Johnson & Johnson’s consumer-health business. Communications have combined functional messages about oral hygiene with broader lifestyle campaigns, including digital video and social-media initiatives. The brand is now associated with Kenvue following the consumer-health separation.
Baby care and personal care
Johnson’s
Johnson’s encompasses baby-care and personal-care products such as lotions, oils, washes, and related items. It helped make the Johnson & Johnson name familiar in households worldwide, although the consumer portfolio was transferred to Kenvue as part of the 2023 separation.
Over-the-counter analgesics
Tylenol
Tylenol is an acetaminophen-based pain-relief and fever-reduction brand historically associated with Johnson & Johnson’s consumer-health operations. Its history includes the 1982 tampering crisis, after which the company adopted a highly visible recall and tamper-resistant packaging response. The brand is now associated with Kenvue.

Controversies

2021
Johnson & Johnson agrees to $230 million New York opioid settlement
Johnson & Johnson agreed to pay about $230 million to resolve claims by New York that it helped fuel the opioid crisis. The agreement removes the company as a defendant in a broader opioid trial; J&J did not admit liability or wrongdoing.
Source
2021
National Council of Negro Women files talcum powder lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson
The National Council of Negro Women, represented by attorney Ben Crump and his team, filed a lawsuit alleging that Johnson & Johnson endangered people by marketing talcum powder products directly to Black women. The lawsuit alleges the company knew of talcum's dangers as early as the 1960s; the supplied source reports allegations, not a court finding.
Source 1 Source 2
2021
Consumers file class-action lawsuit over recalled sunscreens
Johanna Dominguez and Sharron Meijer filed a class-action lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California over affected sunscreen products, seeking an injunction and damages on behalf of consumers.
Source
2021
Lawsuit filed over DePuy Attune Knee System
A plaintiff and his family filed suit against DePuy Orthopedics and Johnson & Johnson, alleging defects and other product-liability claims concerning an implanted Attune Knee System.
Source
2020
Washington state sues Johnson & Johnson over opioid marketing
Washington state filed a lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson, alleging that the company used deceptive marketing to claim its drugs were effective for treating pain and unlikely to cause addiction. The lawsuit alleges violations of the state's Consumer Protection Act, negligence, and public nuisance. The action concerns the company's opioid marketing practices as described in the filing.
Source 1 Source 2
2020
Johnson & Johnson reaches $3.9 million West Virginia settlement
In 2020, West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey reached a $3.9 million settlement with Johnson & Johnson and specialty corporations. The settlement resolved allegations of unlawful, unfair and deceptive marketing of surgical-mesh devices and hip-replacement systems. Johnson & Johnson and its specialty corporations denied the allegations. The event was reported on May 7, 2020.
Source
2020
Missouri appeals court upholds Johnson & Johnson talc verdict and reduces damages
A Missouri appeals court rejected Johnson & Johnson's bid to overturn a jury verdict in favor of women who blamed their ovarian cancer on its baby powder and other talc products, while reducing damages to $2.12 billion. The court said plaintiffs had proven that J&J and an affiliate concealed that talc products contained asbestos and downplayed safety hazards. J&J said it would appeal and maintained that its talc was safe and asbestos-free.
Source 1 Source 2
2020
Former Johnson & Johnson executive files discrimination lawsuit
A former Johnson & Johnson executive, Gina Bilotti, filed a lawsuit against the company alleging sex and gender discrimination, verbal abuse, and retaliation. The allegations are presented as claims made in the lawsuit rather than as established findings. The filing was reported on December 17, 2020. The report identifies Bilotti as a former executive of the company and describes the suit as centering on claims of sexism. No determinations by a court or other adjudicative body are described in the source account.
Source
2020
Oregon reaches $5.5 million settlement with Johnson & Johnson
Oregon announced a $5.5 million settlement with Johnson & Johnson and its subsidiary Ethicon over alleged deceptive marketing of transvaginal surgical mesh devices. The settlement requires court approval to become final.
Source
2019
Johnson & Johnson recalls a batch of baby powder in the United States
Johnson & Johnson announced a voluntary recall in the United States limited to one batch of its baby powder produced and shipped in 2018, after the FDA reported finding asbestos in a sample. The company said it was investigating and working with the FDA to assess the sample and test results.
Source

Marketing campaigns

2025Value of Time
Japan
Launched on World Lung Cancer Day, the campaign focused on the value of time for people living with lung cancer and their families. It emphasizes hope, communication with clinicians, and shared decision-making about treatment.
Outcome. Johnson & Johnson announced plans for videos, patient voices, and tools intended to support dialogue between patients and healthcare professionals.
Source
2025ACUVUE astigmatism video campaign
Japan
ACUVUE promoted the importance of correcting astigmatism through a video distributed on Prime Video, LINE, Instagram, YouTube, and other platforms. The creative portrayed people seeking clear, sustained vision during important work and daily-life situations.
Outcome. The campaign was presented as an educational and product-technology communication effort; independent performance results were not provided in the source.
Source
2023Atrial fibrillation and stroke-awareness advertising
Japan
For Pulse Day, Johnson & Johnson Medical Company sponsored a full-page newspaper awareness advertisement on preventing atrial fibrillation and stroke. Medical experts, including representatives of the Hiroshima medical community, discussed treatment and prevention.
Outcome. The advertisement was published in The Chugoku Shimbun on March 9, 2023.
Source
2017Listerine digital video and Twitter campaign
Japan
A Japanese Listerine campaign used story-based video, Twitter conversational advertising, and real-time creative optimization to broaden interest beyond narrowly functional mouthwash claims. The campaign was reported to have produced substantially higher completion rates than the platform average and a double-digit increase in e-commerce sales.
Outcome. The reported results included a video completion rate 6.2 times the usual Twitter average and double-digit e-commerce sales growth for Listerine.
Source
ACUVUE #わたしの気分がアガること promotion
Japan
ACUVUE used an X campaign aimed at younger consumers, inviting users to post about experiences that lifted their mood. An original illustration and a giveaway compact mirror were used to encourage participation and connect contact-lens use with positive personal moments.
Outcome. The 11-day activity generated 3,125 reported mentions, exceeded its pre-campaign target, and reached illustration and art-oriented audiences.
Source

Brand decisions

2024
Acquire Shockwave MedicalM&A
Background
Johnson & Johnson sought to expand its cardiovascular intervention portfolio with Shockwave Medical’s intravascular lithotripsy technology.
Action taken
The company announced an agreement to acquire Shockwave Medical.
Aftermath
The announced transaction further reinforced the group’s strategy of adding differentiated medical technologies through acquisitions.
Source
2022
Separate consumer health from the parent companyStrategy
Background
Johnson & Johnson concluded that a dedicated consumer-health company would allow the parent group to focus more clearly on prescription medicines and medical technology while preserving established consumer brands in a separate organization.
Action taken
The consumer-health business was organized as Kenvue and subsequently listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
Aftermath
Kenvue began trading in 2023, while Johnson & Johnson continued as a publicly traded company focused on Innovative Medicine and MedTech.
Source
2022
Acquire AbiomedM&A
Background
The transaction was intended to strengthen Johnson & Johnson’s cardiovascular medical-technology position and add heart-support technologies.
Action taken
Johnson & Johnson announced and completed the acquisition of Abiomed.
Aftermath
Abiomed became part of Johnson & Johnson’s MedTech portfolio.
Source

Recent events

2025
Johnson & Johnson launches lung-cancer Value of Time campaign in Japan[6]Johnson & Johnson Japan lung-cancer Value of Time campaignjnj.com
Campaign
The Japan organization launched a World Lung Cancer Day initiative focused on the value of time for patients and families, treatment hope, and shared decision-making between patients and clinicians.
2024
Johnson & Johnson announces acquisition of Shockwave Medical[17]Acquire Shockwave Medicaljnj.com
M&A
The company announced an agreement to acquire Shockwave Medical, strengthening its cardiovascular intervention and intravascular lithotripsy capabilities.
2024
Johnson & Johnson China recognized as a 2024 Forbes China digital-intelligence employer[43]Johnson & Johnson China recognized as a 2024 Forbes China digital-intelligence employerjnj.com.cn
Other
The China organization reported recognition in an employer-branding ranking focused on digital transformation and workplace practices.
2024
Song Weiqun announces departure from Johnson & Johnson China[44]Song Weiqun announces departure from Johnson & Johnson Chinanews.qq.com
Leadership change
Song Weiqun announced plans to leave after serving as China chair and president of Johnson & Johnson MedTech China, with a transition period intended to support continuity.
2023
Kenvue begins trading on the New York Stock Exchange[12]Kenvue separation and IPOkenvue.com
M&A · Other
Kenvue, the former consumer-health business, began trading under the KVUE symbol after its initial public offering and separation process.
2023
Johnson & Johnson Japan publishes atrial-fibrillation and stroke-awareness advertising[14]Atrial fibrillation and stroke-awareness advertisingmedia-chugoku.jp
Campaign
A newspaper awareness advertisement developed for Pulse Day discussed prevention and treatment of atrial fibrillation and stroke with medical experts in Hiroshima.
2023
Johnson & Johnson completed the separation of its consumer-health business as Kenvue[39]Johnson & Johnson faced continuing talc litigation and product-safety scrutinyjnj.com
M&A
The separation sharpened Johnson & Johnson’s focus on Innovative Medicine and MedTech while Kenvue became the independently listed consumer-health company.
2023
Johnson & Johnson completes Kenvue separation[45]强生完成Kenvue分拆jnj.com
M&A
Johnson & Johnson completed the exchange offer and separation that made Kenvue an independent consumer-health company; Johnson & Johnson retained approximately 9.5% of Kenvue after the transaction.
2023
Kenvue begins trading after consumer-health IPO[46]Kenvue begins trading after consumer-health IPOkiplinger.com
M&A · Other
Kenvue completed its initial public offering and began trading on the New York Stock Exchange, establishing the corporate vehicle for brands formerly held in Johnson & Johnson's consumer-health division.
2022
Johnson & Johnson announces separation of consumer-health business[16]Separate consumer health from the parent companyjnj.com
M&A
The company announced the planned separation of its consumer-health portfolio into a new company, later named Kenvue, allowing Johnson & Johnson to concentrate on Innovative Medicine and MedTech.

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