As a global health care company, Johnson & Johnson has a responsibility to help create a world where people across all economic and social circumstances have access to the treatments they need. To enhance access to our health care products, we have many programs for those who cannot afford our medicines. We continually offer support that works to increase access to care in medically underserved communities both in the United States and abroad.
Access Programs in the Developing World
The work of Johnson & Johnson and our operating companies in providing global access to medicines focuses on HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis (TB) and other diseases. We have spearheaded a variety of programs, including:
- A unique collaboration between the Global Alliance for TB Drug Development (TB Alliance), a not-for-profit, product development partnership; and Janssen Pharmaceutica NV, an affiliate of Tibotec in 2009. The collaboration responds to the urgent need to accelerate the discovery and development of new drugs to fight tuberculosis
- A strategic alliance with Crucell, NV, focusing on the discovery, development and commercialization of monoclonal antibodies and vaccines for the treatment and prevention of influenza and other infectious and non-infectious diseases
- Making our first HIV/AIDS medication available to patients in sub-Saharan Africa and other less developed nations at a price that is 85 percent lower than the U.S. commercial price. This is done through a royalty-free voluntary license agreement with the South African company, Aspen Pharmaceuticals, the largest generic manufacturer in Africa
- Providing medicines and other products through our product giving and disaster relief programs. Donations are made to organizations such as AmeriCares and MAP International that provide emergency disaster relief and help medically underserved people in developing countries
As a founding member of the Partnership for Quality Medical Donations and one of the first companies to sign the WHO Guidelines for Donated Drugs, we make sure our product donations follow global standards.
Access Programs in the U.S.
In the U.S., Johnson & Johnson endeavors to help people with little or no health insurance get access to the medicines they need. Our companies operate programs that provide discounts on medicines and other support to patients. Our efforts include:
- The Johnson & Johnson Patient Assistance Foundation, Inc., which provides free medicines, donated by the Johnson & Johnson operating companies, to patients that meet certain eligibility criteria. Over the past three years, our companies have provided more than 2.9 million units of medicine to nearly half a million U.S. patients.
- The access2wellness™ program, which gives people who qualify a single point of access to more than 1,000 medicines and medical products for free or at a discount.
- Being a founding member of Together Rx Access™, a prescription drug savings program for Americans and their families who have no prescription drug coverage and are not eligible for Medicare. Since 2005, more than one million Americans, including approximately 300,000 children, have enrolled in Together Rx Access™.
- Membership to The Partnership for Prescription Assistance (PPA), a broad private-sector effort funded by the pharmaceutical industry. A single phone call or visit to the PPA website helps people find out if they are eligible to get free or nearly free medicines through more than 475 public and private assistance programs that offer more than 2,500 prescription medicines.
Affordability of Medicines
At Johnson & Johnson, our first commitment is, and always has been, to those who use our products and services – the patients, doctors, nurses, and others who rely on us to meet their health and medical needs.
The prices we set for our products help us to fulfill our commitment. We must balance patient access and competitive dynamics with our need as a company to have resources necessary to keep innovating new and better medicines and, at the same time, ensuring a fair return to our shareholders. In the United States, we work to keep our average price increases for health care products within the Consumer Price Index (CPI). A government measurement, the CPI is calculated by gauging price changes across a wide array of products and weighing these changes against the percentage of income that typical consumers spend to purchase these products. The weighted-average compound annual growth rate of Johnson & Johnson net price increases for prescription, and over-the-counter medicines and hospital and professional products has been below the U.S. CPI for many years.
Johnson & Johnson sustains a commitment spanning decades to ensure that lower income and underprivileged patients are able to access our medicines. We also work with governments and international donors around the world to provide our products at affordable prices.
We will continue to price our health care products in a reasonable and responsible manner in accordance with Our Credo values.