J&J Growth Plans Heavy On Line Extensions, Sticking With Immunology And Oncology

Johnson & Johnson’s pharmaceutical sales have been above-market for the past seven years and the firm plans to maintain that trend, largely on the continued strength of its oncology and immunology portfolios. J&J execs explained during a pharmaceuticals business review how recent launches and line extensions will allow it to deliver that growth.

Oncology is becoming an increasingly important therapeutic area for J&J, and along with the more established immunology business, is one of the firm’s six pharmaceutical priority areas – those two plus cardiovascular/metabolic disease; infectious diseases/vaccines; neuroscience; and pulmonary hypertension. During the first quarter of 2018, oncology sales increased 45% year-over-year to $2.31bn, while immunology grew at a lower rate of 3.8% to $3.04bn – although excluding the maturing TNF inhibitor Remicade, the franchise was up 39%