Our Company History Our Company History

Three brothers, Robert Wood Johnson, James Wood Johnson and Edward Mead Johnson, found Johnson & Johnson in New Brunswick, New Jersey, U.S.

The Company publishes Modern Methods of Antiseptic Wound Treatment, which quickly becomes one of the standard teaching texts for antiseptic surgery. It helps spread the practice of sterile surgery in the U.S. and around the world.

Johnson & Johnson pioneers the first commercial first aid kits. The initial kits are designed to help railroad workers, but soon becomes the standard in treating injuries.

Johnson & Johnson launches maternity kits to make childbirth safer for mothers and babies. JOHNSON'S® Baby Powder goes on the market. Its success leads to the Company's heritage Baby business.

Employees manufacture the first mass-produced sanitary protection products for women, a huge step forward in women’s health.

The Company is the first to mass produce dental floss to make it affordable so that people can take better care of their teeth. The floss is originally made from left over suture silk.

The tradition of providing disaster relief begins when the Company donates products and money to help the citizens of Galveston, Texas, in the aftermath of a hurricane.

As part of its commitment to first aid, Johnson & Johnson publishes the first First Aid Manuals, using proven best practices from leading physicians. The manuals are packaged with the Company's First Aid Kits.

Within hours of the San Francisco Earthquake, Johnson & Johnson donates products and money to help the citizens of San Francisco, the largest amount of help from any organization.

James Wood Johnson takes over the leadership of Johnson & Johnson until 1932.

BAND-AID^® Brand Adhesive Bandages, invented by employee Earle Dickson in 1920, go on the market. They are the first commercial dressings for small wounds that consumers can apply themselves.

Our first overseas operating company opens in the United Kingdom.

The Company expands to Mexico and South Africa (1930) and to Australia (1931).

A Johnson & Johnson operating company pioneers family planning products with ORTHO-GYNOL^®, the first prescription contraceptive gel. This was based on the need for trusted family planning products.

Robert Wood Johnson II, son of the Company founder by the same name, begins leadership of Johnson & Johnson. Known as General Johnson, he transforms the Company into a global decentralized Family of Companies.

The Company expands to Argentina and Brazil. Ortho Research Laboratories, Inc. is established in Linden, New Jersey, to make women’s health products.

General Robert Wood Johnson writes Our Credo, which remains the guiding philosophy of Johnson & Johnson.

Dr. Philip Levine, the discoverer of the human rH factor, joins Ortho Research Laboratories, creating the beginnings of the worldwide diagnostics business. Johnson & Johnson goes public, with a listing on the New York Stock Exchange.

Ethicon, Inc. is formed from the Company’s heritage suture business.

JOHNSON'S^® Baby Shampoo with NO MORE TEARS^® formula enters the market as the first mild and soap-free shampoo designed to be gentle enough to clean babies' hair but not irritate their eyes.

The first Johnson & Johnson operating company opens in India.

Johnson & Johnson acquires McNeil Laboratories in the U.S. and Cilag Chemie, AG in Europe, giving the Company a significant presence in the growing field of pharmaceutical medicines. One McNeil product, TYLENOL^® (acetaminophen) elixir for children, is the first prescription aspirin-free pain reliever. A year later, it becomes available without a prescription and earns status as the pain reliever doctors and pediatricians recommend most.

Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V.in Belgium joins the Family of Companies. Its founder, Dr. Paul Janssen, is recognized as one of the most innovative and prolific pharmaceutical researchers of the 20th century.

Under Chairman and CEO Philip B. Hofmann's leadership, operating companies launch new treatments for schizophrenia, family planning and personal care. Also, 1963 marks the last year that JOHNSON'S^® Baby Powder is sold in tins.

Chairman and CEO Richard B. Sellars announces plans to build new World Headquarters in New Brunswick, New Jersey, and forms a public-private partnership to revitalize the city.

During James E. Burke’s tenure and CEO, the Company enters new areas of health, such as vision care, mechinical wound closure and diabetes management, and opens the first operating Companies in China and Egypt.

Johnson & Johnson is a founding partner in Safe Kids Worldwide, the first national and then global campaign to reduce accidental childhood injury. By 2008, the campaign helps reduce the death rate for unintentional injury in children ages 14 and under in the U.S. by 45 percent.

The vision care business introduces ACUVUE^® Brand Contact Lenses, the first disposable contact lenses that can be worn for up to a week, thrown away and replaced with a fresh pair. The lenses eliminate the need for cleaning, disinfecting solutions and storage. Later, 1-DAY ACUVUE^® Brand Contact Lenses become the first daily disposable contact lens.

Under Ralph S. Larsen's leadership as Chairman and CEO, Neutrogena Corporation, Kodak's Clinical Diagnostics business, Cordis Corporation and Centocor join the Family of Companies; Expansion continues into Russia and Eastern Europe.

Ethicon Endo-Surgery pioneers minimally invasive surgery, which uses very small incisions and helps patients recover faster than with traditional surgery.

The development of the first coronary stent revolutionizes cardiology. Coronary stents keep the vessels open so that blood can flow to the heart. Later, Cordis Corporation produces the first stents which continuously release a drug into the artery walls to prevent them from clogging up again.

William C. Weldon becomes Chairman and CEO of Johnson & Johnson, only the eighth person to lead the Company since its founding. Under his leadership, the Company enters new therapeutic areas such as HIV/AIDS, and health and wellness.

Johnson & Johnson acquires Tibotec-Virco BVBA to help address the vast unmet needs of patients with HIV/AIDS and other infectious diseases such as tuberculosis.

Johnson & Johnson acquires Pfizer Consumer Healthcare, which brings in heritage consumer brands such as LISTERINE^® Antiseptic (first formulated in 1879), BENGAY^®, BENADRYL^® and more.

The Company launches Every Mother, Every Child in support of the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals to improve the health of mothers and children in developing countries. Also this year, as a founding sponsor, Johnson & Johnson helps launch the United States’ first free mobile health service that provides timely and expert health information through text messages for pregnant women and new mothers.

Johnson & Johnson celebrates 125 years of caring and looks to the next 125 years of transforming care for patients, consumers and communities around the world.

Alex Gorsky is appointed Chief Executive Officer of Johnson & Johnson. As only the ninth CEO in our history, he continues a legacy of leadership.

1. Our First Aid Kits celebrated their 125th anniversary.
2. Opened innovation centers in Boston, MA; Menlo Park, CA; London, UK; and Shanghai, China.

The new Listerine^® Advanced White mouthwash for whiter teeth helps remove stains, remineralizes and strengthens them all at the same time - for a confident smile with whiter teeth.

Neutrogena^® moves women worldwide with its campaign “See what is possible”. The message is intended to encourage consumers on making their dreams come true and showing their best side.

Johnson & Johnson acquires Actelion, a biotech company based in Allschwil, in the canton of Basel-Country, for approximately USD 30 billion. It is the largest acquisition in the history of Johnson & Johnson.

Johnson & Johnson Switzerland has been recognized among the top 3 attractive Swiss employers in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry ranking of Universum.