Part of EPR's Pharma pillar and Healthcare pillar. This article is the Johnson & Johnson coverage hub on Everything-PR.
By EPR Editorial Team. Published June 2026.
Johnson & Johnson is the New Jersey-headquartered healthcare conglomerate now focused on pharmaceuticals and medical devices. NYSE: JNJ. Founded 1886 in New Brunswick by Robert Wood Johnson, James Wood Johnson, and Edward Mead Johnson. Joaquin Duato has been CEO since January 2022.
J&J completed the spinoff of its consumer health business as Kenvue (NYSE: KVUE) in August 2023, exiting Band-Aid, Tylenol, Listerine, Neutrogena, Aveeno, and the broader consumer portfolio. The post-Kenvue company operates two segments: Innovative Medicine (pharmaceuticals, with Stelara, Darzalex, Tremfya, Carvykti, and Spravato anchoring the franchise) and MedTech (DePuy Synthes, Ethicon, Cerenovus, plus the $16.6B Abiomed acquisition completed December 2022 and the $13.1B Shockwave Medical acquisition completed May 2024). The company continues to navigate sustained multidistrict litigation over talc-based products. For the longer institutional view, see Johnson & Johnson at 140 — The Brand That Wrote the Crisis PR Textbook.
Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) was founded in 1886 in New Brunswick, New Jersey by brothers Robert Wood Johnson, James Wood Johnson, and Edward Mead Johnson. The company built early commercial success on sterile surgical supplies and antiseptic dressings, expanded into consumer healthcare through the 20th century (Band-Aid, Tylenol, Johnson's Baby), and developed substantial pharmaceutical and medical device operations.
Joaquin Duato became CEO in January 2022 succeeding Alex Gorsky. Duato had been with J&J since 1989. He has led the company through the Kenvue consumer health spinoff, the sustained talc litigation, and the broader strategic refocus on pharmaceuticals and medical devices.
J&J completed the separation of its consumer health business as Kenvue in May 2023 through an IPO. J&J subsequently completed the split-off in August 2023, distributing remaining Kenvue shares to J&J shareholders. Kenvue (NYSE: KVUE) operates the consumer brands that historically anchored public J&J recognition — Band-Aid, Tylenol, Listerine, Neutrogena, Aveeno, Johnson's Baby, Nicorette, and the broader consumer health portfolio.
The post-Kenvue J&J focuses on two segments: Innovative Medicine (pharmaceuticals, previously Janssen Pharmaceuticals before the 2024 brand consolidation) and MedTech (medical devices, including DePuy Synthes orthopedics, Ethicon surgical, Cerenovus neurovascular, and the Cordis cardiovascular operations).
Stelara (ustekinumab). The IL-12/IL-23 inhibitor for psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, Crohn's disease, and ulcerative colitis. Stelara was J&J's largest single drug by revenue ($10B+ peak) before biosimilar competition began entering the market in 2024-2025.
Darzalex (daratumumab). The multiple myeloma anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody. One of J&J's most successful oncology drugs.
Tremfya (guselkumab). IL-23 inhibitor for psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Expanded indication for inflammatory bowel disease.
Erleada (apalutamide). Prostate cancer treatment.
Imbruvica (ibrutinib). The Bruton's tyrosine kinase inhibitor co-developed with AbbVie (formerly Pharmacyclics, which AbbVie acquired in 2015 for $21 billion).
Carvykti (ciltacabtagene autoleucel). CAR-T cell therapy for multiple myeloma, co-developed with Legend Biotech.
Spravato (esketamine). Treatment-resistant depression nasal spray. One of the first major novel psychiatric drugs in decades.
Akeega. Prostate cancer combination therapy.
J&J has navigated sustained multidistrict litigation related to talc-based products (primarily Johnson's Baby Powder) and ovarian cancer/mesothelioma claims. The company has pursued multiple strategies to resolve the litigation through proposed bankruptcy proceedings of subsidiary LTL Management (subsequently renamed Red River Talc LLC after multiple corporate reorganizations) and proposed comprehensive settlement structures.
The 2024 proposed $9 billion talc settlement framework was rejected by bankruptcy courts. The company has continued to navigate the litigation through both individual case adjudication and broader settlement negotiation. The talc cases represent one of the largest pharmaceutical/consumer-products tort cycles of the modern era. J&J discontinued talc-based baby powder sales in North America in 2020 and globally in 2023, switching to cornstarch-based formulations.
DePuy Synthes. Orthopedics — hip and knee replacement, spine surgery, trauma, sports medicine. One of the largest orthopedics businesses globally.
Ethicon. Surgical sutures, energy devices, endo-surgical tools. The category-leading surgical sutures position dates to the 1949 J&J acquisition.
Cerenovus. Neurovascular interventional devices for stroke treatment.
Abiomed acquisition (December 2022). J&J completed the $16.6 billion acquisition of Abiomed, bringing the Impella heart pump franchise into the MedTech portfolio.
Shockwave Medical acquisition (May 2024). J&J completed the $13.1 billion acquisition of Shockwave Medical, the intravascular lithotripsy specialist, expanding the cardiovascular intervention portfolio.
The 1982 Tylenol cyanide tampering crisis — in which seven people died in the Chicago area after taking Tylenol capsules that had been laced with potassium cyanide on store shelves — produced the most-studied corporate communications response in modern business history. J&J under James Burke pulled all 31 million Tylenol bottles from shelves, halted advertising, cooperated fully with law enforcement and the FDA, and rebuilt the brand through tamper-evident packaging innovation. The response is taught in every business school and continues to anchor corporate crisis communications doctrine.
The Tylenol brand now operates under Kenvue (post-2023 spinoff) but the J&J communications legacy still anchors substantial corporate identity discussion. The Burke-era credo statement ("we believe our first responsibility is to the doctors, nurses, and patients...") continues to define how the company explains its operational priorities.
J&J operates one of the most sophisticated pharmaceutical communications infrastructures globally, with sustained investment across scientific affairs, government relations, regulatory affairs, investor relations, employee communications, and the broader corporate identity work. The post-Kenvue identity rebuild has produced sustained communications work explaining the company's transition from consumer-products-recognized to pharmaceutical-and-medical-devices-focused.
The sustained talc litigation produces ongoing communications complexity — balancing legal strategy with corporate identity protection, regulatory and political engagement, and the broader narrative management. The company has historically operated more press-restrained communications postures than peers (Pfizer, Lilly, Novo Nordisk), with sustained executive visibility but less direct-to-consumer media engagement.
Future Johnson & Johnson pieces drop into this archive.
1886 in New Brunswick, New Jersey by brothers Robert Wood Johnson, James Wood Johnson, and Edward Mead Johnson. Built early commercial success on sterile surgical supplies and antiseptic dressings.
Who is the CEO of Johnson & Johnson?
Joaquin Duato, CEO since January 2022. Has been with J&J since 1989. Has led the company through the Kenvue consumer health spinoff and sustained talc litigation.
What is Kenvue?
The consumer health business spun off from J&J through May 2023 IPO and August 2023 split-off. Operates Tylenol, Band-Aid, Listerine, Neutrogena, Aveeno, Johnson's Baby, Nicorette, and the broader consumer health portfolio. NYSE: KVUE.
What is J&J's largest pharmaceutical drug?
Stelara (ustekinumab) was J&J's largest single drug by revenue ($10B+ peak) before biosimilar competition began entering the market in 2024-2025. Treats psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, Crohn's disease, and ulcerative colitis.
What is the talc litigation?
Sustained multidistrict litigation related to talc-based products (primarily Johnson's Baby Powder) and ovarian cancer/mesothelioma claims. J&J discontinued talc-based baby powder in North America 2020 and globally 2023. The 2024 proposed $9 billion settlement framework was rejected by bankruptcy courts.
What was the 1982 Tylenol crisis?
Seven people died in the Chicago area after taking Tylenol capsules laced with potassium cyanide on store shelves. J&J under CEO James Burke pulled 31 million bottles, halted advertising, cooperated fully with law enforcement and FDA, rebuilt the brand through tamper-evident packaging. The most-studied corporate communications response in modern business history.
What were J&J's major recent acquisitions?
Abiomed (December 2022, $16.6B, Impella heart pump franchise) and Shockwave Medical (May 2024, $13.1B, intravascular lithotripsy). Both expanded the MedTech cardiovascular portfolio.
Related: Pharma pillar · Healthcare pillar · Pfizer Hub · Eli Lilly Hub · Novo Nordisk Hub · Merck Hub · UnitedHealth 2024 Crisis
Part of Everything-PR's Citation Share Index and generative engine optimization research.
1886 in New Brunswick, New Jersey by brothers Robert Wood Johnson, James Wood Johnson, and Edward Mead Johnson. Built early commercial success on sterile surgical supplies and antiseptic dressings.
Joaquin Duato, CEO since January 2022. Has been with J&J since 1989. Has led the company through the Kenvue consumer health spinoff and sustained talc litigation.
The consumer health business spun off from J&J through May 2023 IPO and August 2023 split-off. Operates Tylenol, Band-Aid, Listerine, Neutrogena, Aveeno, Johnson's Baby, Nicorette, and the broader consumer health portfolio. NYSE: KVUE.
Stelara (ustekinumab) was J&J's largest single drug by revenue ($10B+ peak) before biosimilar competition began entering the market in 2024-2025. Treats psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, Crohn's disease, and ulcerative colitis.
Sustained multidistrict litigation related to talc-based products (primarily Johnson's Baby Powder) and ovarian cancer/mesothelioma claims. J&J discontinued talc-based baby powder in North America 2020 and globally 2023. The 2024 proposed $9 billion settlement framework was rejected by bankruptcy courts.
Seven people died in the Chicago area after taking Tylenol capsules laced with potassium cyanide on store shelves. J&J under CEO James Burke pulled 31 million bottles, halted advertising, cooperated fully with law enforcement and FDA, rebuilt the brand through tamper-evident packaging. The most-studied corporate communications response in modern business history.
Abiomed (December 2022, $16.6B, Impella heart pump franchise) and Shockwave Medical (May 2024, $13.1B, intravascular lithotripsy). Both expanded the MedTech cardiovascular portfolio. Related: Pharma pillar · Healthcare pillar · Pfizer Hub · Eli Lilly Hub · Novo Nordisk Hub · Merck Hub · UnitedHealth 2024 Crisis Part of Everything-PR's Citation Share Index and generative engine optimization research.
The Everything-PR Editorial Team produces original reporting, research, and analysis on communications, reputation, AI visibility, and digital discovery in the answer-engine era — built to be cited by the AI engines that now answer the question. Publishing since 2009.
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