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| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Pharmaceutical |
| Founded | 1953; 72 years ago (1953) |
| Founder | Paul Janssen |
| Headquarters | Turnhoutseweg 30,, |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Jennifer Taubert |
Number of employees | 45.000 |
| Parent | Johnson & Johnson |
| Website | janssen.com |
Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine (formerlyJanssen Pharmaceuticals) is a Belgianpharmaceutical company headquartered inBeerse, Belgium, and wholly-owned byJohnson & Johnson. It was founded in 1953 byPaul Janssen.
In 1961, Janssen Pharmaceuticals was purchased byNew Jersey–based American corporation Johnson & Johnson, and became part ofJohnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research and Development (J&J PRD), later renamed to Janssen Research and Development (JRD), which conducts research and development activities related to a wide range of human medical disorders, includingmental illness,neurological disorders,anesthesia andanalgesia,gastrointestinal disorders, fungal infection,HIV/AIDS,allergies and cancer. Janssen andOrtho-McNeil Pharmaceutical have been placed in theOrtho-McNeil-Janssen group within Johnson & Johnson Company.
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The roots of what would become Janssen Pharmaceuticals date back to 1933. In 1933,Constant Janssen, the father of Paul Janssen, acquired the right to distribute the pharmaceutical products ofRichter, a Hungarian pharmaceutical company, for Belgium, the Netherlands andBelgian Congo. On 23 October 1934, he founded theN.V. Produkten Richter inTurnhout. In 1937, Constant Janssen acquired an old factory building in theStatiestraat 78 inTurnhout for his growing company, which he expanded duringWorld War II into a four-story building. Still a student, Paul Janssen assisted in the development ofparacetamol (USP: acetaminophen, often referred to generically under the trademarkTylenol) under the namePerdolan, which would later become well-known. After the war, the name for the company products was changed toEupharma, although the company nameRichter would remain until 1956.[3]
Paul Janssen founded his own research laboratory in 1953 on the third floor of the building in theStatiestraat, still within theRichter-Eupharma company of his father. In 1955, he and his team developed their first drug, Neomeritine (ambucetamide), an antispasmodic found to be particularly effective for the relief of menstrual pain. On 5 April 1956, the name of the company was changed toNV Laboratoria Pharmaceutica C. Janssen (named after Constant Janssen). On 27 April 1957, the company opened a new research facility in Beerse, but the move to Beerse would not be completed until 1971 to 1972. On 2 May 1958, the research department in Beerse became a separate legal entity, theN.V. Research Laboratorium C. Janssen.
On 25 October 1961, the company was acquired by the American corporationJohnson & Johnson. The negotiations with Johnson & Johnson were led byFrans Van den Bergh, head of the board of directors. On 10 February 1964, the name was changed toJanssen Pharmaceutica N.V. and the seat of the company in Turnhout was also transferred to Beerse. The company was led by Paul Janssen,Bob Stouthuysen and Frans Van Den Bergh. When, in 1971 to 1972 the pharmaceutical production also moved to Beerse, the move from Turnhout was completed. Between 1990 and 2004, Janssen expanded worldwide, and the company grew to about 28,000 employees worldwide.
From the beginning, Janssen emphasized research on new drug development as its core activity. The research department established in Beerse in 1957, developed into a large research campus. In 1987, the Janssen Research Foundation (JRF) was founded to perform research into new drugs at Beerse and in other laboratories around the globe. Janssen became the Flemish company with the largest budget for research and development. Beside the headquarters in Beerse with its research departments, pharmaceutical production and the administrative departments, Janssen Pharmaceutica still has offices in Belgium inBerchem (Janssen-Cilag), a chemical factory inGeel, andJanssen Biotech inOlen.
The chemical production plant in Geel makesactive ingredients for the company's medicines. In 1975, the first plant of a new chemical factoryPlant I was established in Geel,Plant II was opened in 1977,Plant III' in 1984, andPlant IV in 1995. In 1999 the remaining chemical production in Beerse was transferred to Geel. About 80% of its active components are manufactured there. The site in Geel also manufactures about two-thirds of the worldwide chemical production of the pharmaceutical sector ofJohnson & Johnson. In 1995, theCenter for Molecular Design (CMD) was founded by Paul Janssen andPaul Lewi.
In 1999, clinical research and non-clinical development become a global organization within Johnson & Johnson. In 2001, part of the research activities was transferred to the United States with the reorganization of research activities in theJohnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research Development (JJPRD) organization. The research activities of theJanssen Research Foundation (JRF) and theR.W. Johnson Pharmaceutical Research Institute (PRI) (United States) were merged into the new global research organization. A new building for pharmaceutical development was completed in Beerse in 2001. In 2002, a new logistics and informatics centre was opened at a new site,Beerse 2. In 2003 two new research buildings were constructed, theDiscovery Research Center (DRC), and theDrug Safety Evaluation Center (DSEC). On 27 October 2004, thePaul Janssen Research Center, for discovery research, was inaugurated.
In 2011, Johnson & Johnson subsidiary Centocor becameJanssen Biotech, part of Janssen Pharmaceuticals.[1]
Also in 2011, Johnson & Johnson acquired Crucell, and assigned it to Janssen. The acquisition of Crucell provided Janssen with a disease prevention arm. By 2014, Crucell was renamedJanssen Vaccines.[4][2]
In March 2015, Janssen licensedtipifarnib (afarnesyl transferase inhibitor) to Kura Oncology who will assume sole responsibility for developing and commercialising the anti-cancer drug.[5] Later in the same month the company announced thatGalapagos Pharma had regained the rights to the anti-inflammatory drug candidateGLPG1690 as well as two other compounds includingGLPG1205 (a first-in-class inhibitor ofGPR84).[6]
In May 2016, the company launched a collaborationMacroGenics and the preclinical cancer treatment, MGD015. The deal could net MacroGenics more than $740 million.[7]
In September 2017 Janssen teamed up with theBiomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), a unit of theU.S. Department of Health and Human Services, to create pandemicflu vaccines. BARDA gave Janssen $43 million in the first year and $273 million over five years for the contract. One of the projects in the contract is the development of a universal flu vaccine. The intent of the vaccine would be to protect people against all or most flu strains.[8]
On 5 March 2019, theFood and Drug Administration approved Janssen'sSpravato (esketaminenasal spray) for treatment-resistantmajor depressive disorder. This marked the first approval of a new type of antidepressant in decades.[9]
In 2021, Janssen became a defendant in a trial against several opioid manufacturers filed by New York Attorney GeneralLetitia James.[10] The company was removed from the case after Johnson & Johnson agreed to a pay a $230 million settlement to New York State.[11]
The subsidiaryJanssen Biotech, Inc. was founded inPhiladelphia in 1979 asCentocor Biotech, Inc., with an initial goal to develop new diagnostic assays usingmonoclonal antibody technology.
In 1982, Centocor became a publicly traded company.[12] In the early 1980s, the company moved toMalvern, Pennsylvania.[12] In 1984, Centocor opened an overseas plant inLeiden, theNetherlands.[13]
In 1997, eighteen years after its foundation, Centocor achieved its first year of operating profitability.[14][15] In 1998, Centocor sold its diagnostic division toFujirebio, Inc.[16]
In 1999, Centocor became a wholly owned subsidiary ofJohnson & Johnson.[17]
In 2004, Centocor purchased a new manufacturing plant inSt. Louis, Missouri, and is opening a new manufacturing facility inCounty Cork, Ireland. The Dutch plant has been expanded substantially with a $250 million investment in additional production facilities, which were opened in 2006.[citation needed]
In 2007, Centocor broke new ground in advertising by releasingInnerstate, believed to be the first theatrically released documentary film both created and entirely funded by a drug company, to promote Remicade (Infliximab).[18]
In 2008, Centocor, Inc. and Ortho Biotech Inc. merged to form Centocor Ortho Biotech Inc.
In June 2010, Centocor Ortho Biotech acquired RespiVert, a privately helddrug discovery company focused on developing small-molecule, inhaled therapies for the treatment of pulmonary diseases.[19]
In June 2011, Centocor Ortho Biotech changed its name to Janssen Biotech, Inc. as part of a global effort to unite the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies around the world under a common identity.[20]
In December 2014, the company announced it would co-developMacroGenics cancer drug candidate (MGD011) which targets bothCD19 andCD3 proteins in treatingB-cell malignant tumours. This could net MacroGenics up to $700 million.[21]
In January 2015, the company announced it would useIonis Pharmaceuticals' (formerly Isis Pharmaceuticals) RNA-targeting technology to discover and developantisense drugs targeting autoimmune disorders of the gastrointestinal tract.[22]
In December 2019, XBiotech Inc. announced it would sell its novel antibody treatment (bermekimab) that neutralizesinterleukin-1 alpha (IL-1⍺) to Janssen Biotech, Inc.[23][24]
On 27 March 2020, the U.S.Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) allocated $456 million for J&J (Janssen) to develop a vaccine against thenovel coronavirus.[25][26]
Janssen Pharmaceuticals was the first Western pharmaceutical company to set up a pharmaceutical factory in the People's Republic of China.[27]
In 1976, Paul Janssen metMa Haide (born George Shafik Hatem), a Lebanese-American doctor who had started working in China in 1933. After three days of meetings, the two agreed to bring a modernized pharmaceutical business to China. WhenDeng Xiaoping opened China to the West in 1978, Janssen sentPaul Appermont andJoos Horsten to set up the project.[27]
In 1983, Janssen signed a cooperative contract to modernize production in an old chemical factory in the city ofHanzhong, inShaanxi. This factory would soon produce the active compound of Janssen products such asmebendazole. In 1985, operating as Xian-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, a large factory was opened in the city ofXi'an, also in Shaanxi province.[27]
| R-code | Name | Brand name | Synthesized | Marketed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| R5 | ambucetamide | Neomeritine | 1953 | 1955 |
| R79 | isopropamide iodide | Priamide-Janssen | 1954 | 1955 |
| R253 | diisopromine | Bilagol | 1955 | 1956 |
| R516 | cinnarizine | Stugeron | 1955 | 1958 |
| R875 | dextromoramide | Palfium | 1955 | 1957 |
| R1132 | diphenoxylate | Reasec | 1956 | 1960 |
| R1625 | haloperidol | Haldol | 1958 | 1959 |
| R2498 | trifluperidol | Triperidol | 1959 | 1961 |
| R3345 | pipamperone | Dipiperon | 1960 | 1961 |
| R3365 | piritramide | Dipidolor | 1960 | 1967 |
| R4263 | fentanyl[28][29] | Sublimaze | 1960 | 1963 |
| R4584 | benperidol | Frenactyl | 1961 | 1965 |
| R4749 | droperidol[30] | Dehydrobenzperidol | 1961 | 1963 |
| R4845 | bezitramide | Burgodin | 1961 | 1971 |
| R6218 | fluspirilene | Imap | 1963 | 1971 |
| R6238 | pimozide | Orap | 1963 | 1970 |
| R7904 | lidoflazine | Clinium | 1964 | 1969 |
| R11333 | bromperidol | Impromen | 1966 | 1981 |
| R12564 | levamisole | Ergamisol | 1966 | 1969 |
| R13672 | haloperidol decanoate | Haldol decanoas | 1967 | 1981 |
| R14889 | miconazole nitrate | Daktarin | 1967 | 1971 |
| R14950 | flunarizine | Sibelium | 1967 | 1977 |
| R15889 | lorcainide | Remivox | 1968 | 1983 |
| R16341 | penfluridol | Semap | 1968 | 1973 |
| R16470 | dexetimide | Tremblex | 1968 | 1972 |
| R16659 | etomidate[31][32] | Hypnomidate | 1964 | 1977 |
| R17635 | mebendazole | Vermox | 1968 | 1972 |
| R18553 | loperamide | Imodium | 1969 | 1973 |
| R33800 | sufentanil[33] | Sufenta | 1974 | 1979 |
| R33812 | domperidone | Motilium | 1974 | 1978 |
| R35443 | oxatomide | Tinset | 1975 | 1981 |
| R39209 | alfentanil[34][35] | Rapifen | 1976 | 1983 |
| R33799 | carfentanil[36] | Wildnil | 1976 | 1980? |
| R41400 | ketoconazole | Nizoral | 1976 | 1981 |
| R43512 | astemizole | Hismanal | 1977 | 1983 |
| R46541 | bromperidol decanoate | Impromen decanoas | 1978 | 1984 |
| R49945 | ketanserin tartrate | Sufrexal | 1980 | 1987 |
| R50547 | levocabastine | Livostin/Livocab | 1979 | 1989 |
| R51211 | itraconazole | Sporanox | 1980 | 1986 |
| R51619 | cisapride | Prepulsid | 1980 | 1989 |
| R64766 | risperidone | Risperdal | 1984 | 1993 |
| R207910 | bedaquiline | Sirturo | 2004 | 2012 |
Janssen Pharmaceuticals has developed and brought to the market about 70 new active substances (NCE), of which the most well-known are (name may differ):
Eight original Janssen drugs have been included on theWHO Model List of Essential Medicines:
In 1984, Centocor developed their first product approved by theU.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) – a diagnostic test used to detect therabies virus.[citation needed]
In 1998, the company launched its top-selling monoclonal antibodyRemicade (infliximab) for its first FDA approved indication inCrohn's disease. Subsequently, Remicade's market has expanded with approvals forrheumatoid arthritis,ankylosing spondylitis,psoriatic arthritis,ulcerative colitis, andpediatric Crohn's disease. Remicade was approved for plaque psoriasis in September 2006.
Centocor also markets ReoPro (abciximab), a biologic agent indicated as an adjunct to coronaryangioplasty (PTCA).
In 2009, the U.S. FDA approvedSimponi, a human monoclonal antibody for treatment for arthritis, which was co-developed withMedarex, Inc.[37]
In 2004, theUnited States Department of Justice began investigating sales practices surrounding the antipsychotic drugrisperidone (Risperdal). In 2010, the agency joined awhistleblower suit alleging that despite being warned by the U.S.Food and Drug Administration not to promote Risperdal as effective and safe for elderly patients, in whom it was known to be associated with early death, Johnson & Johnson and Janssen Pharmaceuticals paid pharmacists atOmnicare, the largest supplier of pharmaceuticals to nursing homes, tens of millions of dollars in bribes andkickbacks to promote the drug to physicians for this unapproved use.[38][39]
The lawsuit resulted in a 2012 provisional settlement totaling $2.3 billion,[40] with Omnicare having already settled for around $100 million.[40] Four states were awarded damages: Louisiana ($258 million in 2010), South Carolina ($327 million in 2011), Texas ($158 million in 2012), and Arkansas ($1.2 billion in 2012).[41]
Former head of sales and president of JanssenAlex Gorsky, who according to the Department of Justice "was actively involved" in the fraud, became CEO of Johnson & Johnson in 2012.[42]
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