Janssen is to rebrand as Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine

By Chris Wheal

May 02, 2024

Janssen brand will be swapped for Johnson & Johnson

Johnson & Johnson has ditched the Janssen name in the UK and will drop it in Ireland in June, the company has said. 

Janssen, the company’s pharmaceutical segment, will be known as Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine. The medical technology segment will continue to be known as Johnson & Johnson MedTech. The changes are part of a global roll-out of the new Johnson & Johnson brand, announced in September 2023.

In a statement, the company said: “The transition is happening at a time when Johnson & Johnson is celebrating its storied heritage and achievements over 100 years of operations in the UK. Johnson & Johnson has stood alongside the UK through world wars, disease outbreaks and natural disasters, proudly partnering with the NHS, healthcare leaders, clinicians and patients to develop innovative treatments and technologies along the way.”

100 years of history

Roz Bekker, managing director of Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine UK & Ireland, said: “Though our name for our pharmaceutical segment may have changed, our ambition hasn’t. Over the past 100 years, our first responsibility has always been to the patients, doctors and nurses that we serve. 

“Our support for the health system reaches back to before the inception of the NHS, and we recognise that only through enduring partnerships can we continue to make a positive difference to the lives of patients and their loved ones. 

“As we look ahead to the future, we will continue to build on our legacy of care and innovation, delivering transformational medicines that improve patient outcomes and make a lasting impact on the healthcare sector in the UK.”

Janseen was founded in Belgium in 1953 but bought by Johnson & Johnson just 12 years later.

What’s in a name?

This is the second major shake-up after Johnson & Johnson hived off its consumer health division in August last year to Kenvue. 

This led to brands such as Aveeno®, BAND-AID® Brand Adhesive Bandages, Johnson’s®, Listerine®, Neutrogena® and Tylenol® switching to Kenvue.

The name change came too late for environmental campaigners who claimed Johnson & Johnson Consumer Health was one of the worst companies for using polluting plastics. A research paper called Global Producer Responsibility for Plastic Pollution included pharma firm Johnson & Johnson Consumer Health. 

Plastic pollution

The researchers looked at more than 28,570 unique brand labels in 1,576 brand audit events in 84 countries. Most companies on the list were food and drink firms, but Nivea maker Beiserdorf and Natural Vitality brand owner Clorox were there too.

The report said: “Core findings of this analysis suggest a paradigm shift in how we regulate plastic producers. The power law relationship indicates that a few companies are responsible for half of branded plastic pollution. This suggests that action by these companies, whether voluntary or mandated by governments or an international legally binding instrument, can positively address the problem. 

“The strong linear relationship between plastic production and branded plastic pollution, across geographies and widely varying waste management systems, suggests that reduced plastic production is a primary solution to curb plastic pollution. Producer brand managers and policymakers should prioritise solutions that reduce plastic production.”

PharmaLIfeScience contacted both Johnson & Johnson and Kenvue for comment. J&J said it was Kenvue’s issue. Kenvue did not respond.

United Nations negotiations

The UN has claimed it has secured international agreement to end plastics production though the Global Plastics Treaty. However, negotiations on the exact wording this week resulted in an alliance of oil-producing nations battling against tough legislation.

The “high-ambition” group included leading EU member states and Japan. They pushed for limits on production. A group that included China, Russia and Saudi Arabia opposed that. The US, although not aligned with that group, sided with it.

Environmental news website Edie reported widespread criticism of the current treaty.

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