Johnson & Johnson (J&J), a major player in consumer, pharmaceutical and medical devices & diagnostics segments, improved its financial performance during the second quarter ended June 2005 and its net earnings increased by 8.9 per cent to US$ 2676 million from $2458 million in the corresponding period of last year. The company’s sales increased by 11.1 per cent to $12,762 million from $ 11,484 million.

Its worldwide Pharmaceutical sales increased by 3.7 per cent to $ 5.6 billion due the second quarter mainly due to strong performance of Risperdal, an antipsychotic medication and Remicade, biologic approved for the treatment of number of Immune mediated Inflammatory diseases. The company’s R&D expenditure went up by 25.8 per cent to $1487 million from $1182 million in the corresponding period of last year.

The company received USFDA approvals for Topamax and Remicade products during the quarter ended June 2005. J&J also submitted a supplemental Biologics License Application to FDA for Remicade for the treatment of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and completed its acquisition of Peninsula Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

William C Weldon, chairman and CEO said, “ The breadth of our health care business continues to be a key strength of J&J. Of particular note is the strong performance of each of our franchises in the Medical Devices and diagnostics segment as well as the overall strength of the results and consistent performance from our Consumer segment.”

The company’s sales for the first six months of 2005 increased by 11.1 per cent to $25,594 million from $ 23,043 million. Its net earnings went up by 13.2 per cent to $5603 from $4951 million in the corresponding six months of last year. The R&D expenditure saw a rise of 24.4 per cent at $2834 million.