Suzhou, China (June 22, 2011) --- Johnson & Johnson Medical (Suzhou) Ltd announced today it has established an innovation center in China to design and develop medical devices and diagnostic products specifically for Asia’s emerging markets, primarily focusing on China and India. The Johnson & Johnson Medical Companies Asia Pacific Innovation Center located in Suzhou, China was officially opened today by Alex Gorsky, Vice Chairman of the Executive Committee, Johnson & Johnson.
The Innovation Center is part of a Market Appropriate Innovation strategy aimed at better serving the people of Asia Pacific. Mr. Gorsky said “Johnson & Johnson products touch around one billion people every day. The important question is how do we help the next billion, many of whom live in Asia where health care needs are intensifying?” Mr. Gorsky explained, “Both China and India are experiencing an increase in the metabolic and chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity and cancer that many of our products diagnose or treat. With 125 years experience we believe Johnson & Johnson is uniquely positioned to help address the Asia’s changing and growing health needs.”
However Mr. Gorsky acknowledged the need for change to increase reach into Asia. He explained, “The emerging markets are not new territory for Johnson & Johnson – our companies have been operating in India for more than 50 years and in China for nearly 30. However, for all our success we believe we’ve only just scratched the surface in terms of the impact we can make on people’s lives.”
Michael del Prado, Company Group Chairman for Johnson & Johnson Medical Companies in Asia Pacific explained the company’s approach to the challenge. He said, “We have an excellent portfolio of products that serves the developed markets very well but it doesn’t adequately meet all of the needs in Asia, particularly those of the mass market. This Asia Pacific Innovation Center in China, together with an existing one in India, will develop new products in Asia for Asia’s emerging markets.”
The strategy combines the strength and breadth of Johnson & Johnson’s seven medical devices and diagnostic franchises (Cordis, DePuy, Ethicon, Ethicon Endo-Surgery, LifeScan, Ortho Clinical Diagnostics and Vision Care) with the power of local knowledge. Mr. del Prado said, “Inspired by local insights, our engineers are adapting and refining products from Johnson & Johnson’s outstanding portfolio and pursuing adjacent and new spaces to make medical devices that better suit the conditions and needs of Asia’s health care professionals and patients. This might include focusing on devices for specific disease states that are prevalent in Asia Pacific or developing simplified or smaller instruments that better suit the conditions and capabilities within a rural health setting. It may also include creating multi-use and disposable products that are more economical.”
A number of products for the emerging markets have already been developed and launched including the Ethicon Endo-Surgery re-usable linear cutter, the Synsyl suture range for Ethicon and the DePuy REACH knee.
The Innovation Center is the latest addition to the Johnson & Johnson Medical Companies campus in the Suzhou Industrial Park. The 278,000 square-meter site also contains a DePuy manufacturing plant which began operation in 2007 and a Global Finance shared services center opened in 2010 to provide general accounting services to the Johnson & Johnson companies in north Asia. Investment in the site to date totals USD 115 million.
About Johnson & Johnson
Caring for the world, one person at a time... inspires and unites the people of Johnson & Johnson. We embrace research and science - bringing innovative ideas, products and services to advance the health and well-being of people. Employees of the Johnson & Johnson Family of Companies work with partners in health care to touch the lives of over a billion people every day, throughout the world. The Family of Companies comprises the world’s sixth-largest consumer health company; largest and most diverse medical devices and diagnostics company; fifth-largest biologics company and eighth-largest pharmaceuticals company. We have more than 250 operating companies in 60 countries employing approximately 115,000 people. Our worldwide headquarters is in New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA.
Johnson & Johnson established its first office in Beijing in 1982. In 1985, Xi’an-Janssen Pharmaceutical Ltd. was founded as Johnson & Johnson’s first enterprise on China mainland. Today there are ten independent Johnson & Johnson subsidiaries in China selling a wide range of products from baby care and skin care products to medical devices and pharmaceuticals. Johnson & Johnson companies in China also manufacture products locally, provide education for healthcare professionals through training institutes in Beijing and Shanghai and undertake research and development in pharmaceuticals, personal care products and medical devices.
Johnson & Johnson Medical (Suzhou) Ltd was formed in 2006 as a solely foreign-owned Johnson & Johnson company in China. It is based in the Suzhou Industrial Park, Jiangsu Province. The campus includes a DePuy manufacturing plant, a Global Finance Shared Services center and the Johnson & Johnson Medical Companies Asia Pacific Innovation Center. The campus currently employs around 500 people.
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