About this content About Emily Jarvie Emily began her career as a political journalist for Australian Community Media in Hobart, Tasmania. After she relocated to Toronto, Canada, she reported on business, legal, and scientific developments in the emerging psychedelics sector before joining Proactive in 2022. She brings a strong journalism background with her work featured in newspapers, magazines, and digital publications across Australia, Europe, and North America, including The Examiner, The Advocate, The ...

A US bankruptcy judge on Monday rejected Johnson & Johnson's $10 billion proposal to end tens of thousands of lawsuits alleging that its baby powder and other talc products cause ovarian cancer, marking the third time the company's bankruptcy strategy has failed in court. J&J has been attempting to resolve the lawsuits through a subsidiary company's bankruptcy, after two previous bankruptcy attempts failed in other courts. But the judge overseeing its case, US Bankruptcy Judge Christopher Lopez in Houston, ...

J&J faces more than 62,000 lawsuits for its talc-based products, primarily its baby powders. The lawsuits allege that its talc products contain asbestos, which caused many women to develop ovarian and some other cancers. J&J insists that talc-based products are safe and do not cause cancer. J&J has permanently discontinued the sale of its talc-based Johnson's Baby Powder globally. J&J's 3 Bankruptcy Filing in Texas After Two Failed Attempts In September, J&J, via a subsidiary called Red River Talc, filed fo ...

Recent Developments Related to JNJ's Rybrevant J&J (JNJ) recently reported new positive data from the phase III MARIPOSA study, which compared the combination of Rybrevant and Lazcluze against AstraZeneca's (AZN) Tagrisso in first-line EGFR-mutated non-small cell lung cancer ("NSCLC"). Data from the study suggests that the Rybrevant-Lazcluze combo significantly extends overall survival ("OS") in NSCLC patients with EGFR exon 19 deletions (ex19del) or exon 21 L858R substitution (L858R) mutations. At a median ...

Core Insights - The article discusses a comparative analysis between AbbVie and Johnson & Johnson, suggesting that Benjamin Graham would favor Johnson & Johnson due to its consumer healthcare segment [1]. Group 1 - Johnson & Johnson stock (NYSE: JNJ) was the focus of a previous analysis published on February 19, 2025 [1]. - The analysis highlighted the strengths of Johnson & Johnson in the consumer healthcare market compared to AbbVie [1].

Core Viewpoint - Concerns about a potential recession are rising, and investors are advised to consider companies with strong fundamentals that can sustain dividends during economic downturns [1][2] Group 1: Companies with Strong Dividend Records - Companies like Medtronic and Johnson & Johnson are highlighted as strong candidates due to their long history of paying and increasing dividends, indicating robust fundamentals [2][11] - Medtronic has a record of 47 consecutive years of dividend increases, while Johnson & Johnson boasts 62 straight years, showcasing their resilience through various economic cycles [11] Group 2: Resilience During Economic Downturns - During recessions, consumer demand typically decreases, but defensive sectors like healthcare tend to perform better, as medical products and services are often essential [3][6] - Medtronic and Johnson & Johnson provide critical healthcare products that consumers are less likely to forgo, even in tough economic times [4][5] Group 3: Long-Term Growth Prospects - Both companies are positioned for long-term growth due to their leadership in the healthcare industry, which is expected to expand as the global population ages [7] - Medtronic's investments in robotic-assisted surgery and diabetes care, along with Johnson & Johnson's development of new medicines, are anticipated to drive future growth [8][9] Group 4: Market Position and Product Offerings - Medtronic's portfolio includes diabetes care, cardiovascular health, and other critical medical devices, while Johnson & Johnson has a diverse range of drugs and a strong medtech segment [4][5] - The introduction of innovative products, such as Medtronic's Hugo system and Johnson & Johnson's Ottava system for robotic surgery, represents significant growth opportunities [8]

Core Insights - Johnson & Johnson announced that RYBREVANT® (amivantamab-vmjw) in combination with LAZCLUZE™ (lazertinib) significantly improves overall survival (OS) compared to osimertinib in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with specific EGFR mutations [1][2][3] Group 1: Study Results - The Phase 3 MARIPOSA study demonstrated that the median OS for RYBREVANT® plus LAZCLUZE™ has not yet been reached, while the median OS for osimertinib was 36.7 months [2][3] - At a median follow-up of 37.8 months, 56% of patients treated with RYBREVANT® and LAZCLUZE™ were alive at three and a half years compared to 44% for those on osimertinib [2] - Projections suggest that RYBREVANT® plus LAZCLUZE™ could extend median OS by at least 12 months compared to osimertinib [2] Group 2: Secondary Endpoints - The combination therapy also showed prolonged benefits in secondary endpoints, including intracranial progression-free survival (PFS) and time to symptomatic progression (TTSP), which was extended by more than 14 months compared to osimertinib [2][3] - The study met its primary endpoint in October 2023, indicating a statistically significant improvement in PFS compared to osimertinib [3] Group 3: Safety Profile - The safety profile of RYBREVANT® plus LAZCLUZE™ was consistent with previous analyses, with adverse event rates comparable to other RYBREVANT® regimens [2][3] - Most adverse events occurred early during treatment, and no new safety signals were identified with longer-term follow-up [2] Group 4: Regulatory Status - RYBREVANT® plus LAZCLUZE™ is approved in the U.S., Europe, and other markets for first-line treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC with specific EGFR mutations [3][6] - The results from the MARIPOSA study will be shared with health authorities globally [3]

Core Insights - Tevogen Bio has appointed David E. Banko as Global Head of Government Affairs and Patient Access, bringing over 30 years of experience in market access and health policy [1][2][3] - Mr. Banko will focus on advancing patient access to Tevogen's therapies, engaging with payers, and ensuring Health Technology Assessment readiness, which are critical for the company's commercialization strategies [2][4] - Tevogen Bio is a clinical-stage specialty immunotherapy company developing precision T cell therapies for infectious diseases and cancers, with a strong emphasis on patient accessibility and innovative business models [5][6][7] Company Strategy - The appointment of Mr. Banko is seen as a significant step towards commercialization readiness, emphasizing the need for defined value propositions for various stakeholders in the healthcare ecosystem [4] - Tevogen Bio aims to secure appropriate coding, coverage, and reimbursement for its therapies at launch, which is essential for market access [2][4] - The company has reported positive safety data from its proof-of-concept clinical trials and holds key intellectual property assets, including three granted patents and several pending patents related to artificial intelligence [6] Leadership and Expertise - Mr. Banko's previous roles include positions at Cordis Corp and B. Braun Medical Inc., where he successfully enhanced market access for innovative technologies [3] - Tevogen Bio's leadership team consists of experienced industry leaders and scientists focused on drug development and global product launch [7] - The company believes that accessible personalized therapeutics represent the next frontier of medicine, necessitating disruptive business models to sustain innovation [7]

Core Viewpoint - Johnson & Johnson (J&J) plans to invest over $55 billion in the U.S. over the next four years to expand its manufacturing capabilities, marking a 25% increase compared to the previous four years [1][2] Investment Plans - The investment will initiate with a high-tech facility in North Carolina and include three new advanced manufacturing facilities, along with expansions of existing plants in its Innovative Medicine and MedTech sectors [1][2] Business Model Strengths - J&J's diversified business model is a significant strength, operating through pharmaceuticals and medical devices with over 275 subsidiaries, which helps it withstand economic cycles [4] - The company has 26 platforms with annual sales exceeding $1 billion and maintains one of the largest R&D budgets in the pharmaceutical industry [4] Innovative Medicine Segment - The Innovative Medicine unit is showing consistent growth, with sales increasing by 5.8% in 2024 on an organic basis [6] - J&J anticipates generating over $57 billion in sales from this segment in 2025, with expected growth of 5-7% from 2025 to 2030 [7] - Ten new products in the Innovative Medicine pipeline are projected to deliver peak non-risk-adjusted operational sales of $5 billion [7] Challenges in Innovative Medicine - The loss of patent exclusivity for Stelara in 2025, which generated $10.36 billion in sales in 2024, is expected to significantly impact sales due to the introduction of generics [8] - Additional challenges include a $2 billion impact from the Medicare Part D redesign and adverse currency fluctuations [9] MedTech Segment Performance - J&J's MedTech sales are facing challenges, particularly in the Asia Pacific region, with significant impacts from China's volume-based procurement program and competitive pressures [10][11] - Despite these challenges, J&J is shifting its MedTech portfolio towards high-innovation markets, particularly in Cardiovascular, following recent acquisitions [12] Legal Issues - J&J is dealing with over 62,000 lawsuits related to its talc-based products, with a proposed settlement plan of approximately $6.5 billion to resolve most claims [13][14] - The company has filed for bankruptcy through a subsidiary to facilitate the resolution of these lawsuits, with a commitment to increase settlement funds to approximately $8 billion [15] Stock Performance and Valuation - J&J's stock has outperformed the industry, rising 13.1% year-to-date compared to the industry's 6.3% growth [16] - The stock is trading at a price/earnings ratio of 15.30, slightly below the industry average of 16.69 [19] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 earnings has increased from $10.48 to $10.58 per share over the past month [22] Future Outlook - J&J's Innovative Medicines segment shows a positive growth trend, supported by a strong R&D pipeline and recent acquisitions [24] - However, challenges from the MedTech unit, the Stelara patent cliff, and the Medicare Part D redesign are significant headwinds anticipated in 2025 [25]

Investment Plans - Johnson & Johnson (J&J) announced plans to invest over $55 billion in the United States over the next four years, marking a 25% increase compared to the previous four years [1] - The company anticipates that the economic impact of this increased investment will exceed $100 billion annually [1] Manufacturing Facilities - The investment will kick off with the construction of a 500,000-square-foot biologics manufacturing facility in North Carolina, expected to create 5,000 construction jobs and over 500 permanent positions [2] - J&J plans to build three new advanced manufacturing facilities and expand several existing plants in its Innovative Medicine and MedTech sectors, although the locations of the new facilities have not been disclosed [2] Stock Performance - J&J's shares have outperformed the industry year to date, with a stock increase of 13.1% compared to the industry's growth of 6.3% [3] Industry Context - The announcement follows similar moves by other pharmaceutical companies, such as Eli Lilly, which plans to invest $27 billion in new manufacturing sites in the U.S. by 2025 [5][6] - Pfizer is also considering relocating some of its overseas manufacturing to the U.S. in response to tariff threats [7]