Johnson & Johnson has achieved pharmaceutical sales of US$ 23,267 million during the year ended December 2006 as against $22,322 million in the previous year, a growth of 4.2 per cent.

The company's total sales, including sales from pharmaceutical, consumer healthcare and medical devices and diagnostics increased by 5.6 per cent to $53,324 million from $50,514 million. The net profit improved by 3.5 per cent to $2,168 million from $2,095 million with earning per share of $0.74 as compared o $0.70 in the previous year. It's R&D expenditure increased by 10.3 per cent to $7,125 million from 6,462 million.

William C Weldon, chairman and CEO, said, "J&J had a solid year in 2006, delivering double-digit growth in earnings per share while continuing to invest in building our businesses for the future. We are very excited about the completion of the Pfizer Consumer Healthcare acquisition, which not only brings to J&J some of the world's premier consumer brands, but also builds upon our broad base in human health care."

Its Medical Devices and Diagnostics segment achieved annual sales of $20.3 billion in 2006. Representing an increase over the prior year of 6.2 per cent with operational growth of 6.4 per cent. The Pharmaceutical sales growth reflects the strong performance of Risperdal, an antipsychotic medication; Remicade, a biologic approved for the treatment of a number of Immune Mediated Inflammatory Diseases; Topamax, an antiepileptic and treatment for the prevention o migraine headaches; Velcade, a treatment or multiple myeloma, and Concerta, a treatment for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.