Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research and Development, L.L.C., has started construction of a new building on its Spring House, Pennsylvania, campus, that will add approximately 150,000 square feet in new laboratory, clinical development and office space to its existing facilities. The site will become Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research & Development's East Coast hub for discovery research and early clinical development upon its completion in 2009.

"This expansion demonstrates our commitment to ongoing research and development as a key driver of our future success," said Joseph C. Scodari, worldwide chairman pharmaceuticals, Johnson & Johnson. "Johnson & Johnson is proud of its long heritage of pioneering research on this site. More than 15 major products were discovered or developed here, including several of our company's major prescription medicines, such as Topamax (topiramate), Ultram (tramadol HCl) and Ultracet (acetaminophen/tramadol hydrochloride). We intend to continue building on that tradition for many more years to come."

The multidisciplinary teams at Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research and Development, L.L.C., are using the latest technologies and research approaches, including biomarkers, pharmacogenomics and structural biology, to discover and develop new life-saving medicines and address some of the world's greatest unmet medical needs. This investment in this research building ensures that the teams have a fully equipped, state of the art facility to continue conducting world-class research.

"This investment is a key component of our long term strategy to continue the sustained flow of innovative, high-quality compounds from our internal research," said Paul Stoffels, company group chairman, Pharmaceutical Research and Development, Johnson & Johnson. "The new facility will provide our East Coast team with state of the art capabilities to accelerate drug discovery and early development programs, and continue our tradition of delivering new medicines and driving value for our patients."

Under the plan, Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research & Development, L.L.C., will retain 680 existing jobs at the site, and expects to add another 120 jobs over the next three years. Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research & Development, L.L.C., and its affiliates employ over 5,000 people at its research and early clinical development hubs located in Pennsylvania, California and across Europe.

"As we begin to write a new chapter in our history as a proud corporate member of the Montgomery Township community, we would like to thank Governor Rendell, and the Department of Community and Economic Development of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, for their partnership and collaboration to the success of this important initiative," said Roger Bone, Ph.D., senior vice president, and head of the Spring House Research and Early Development site.