Johnson & Johnson

In 1860, Johnson & Johnson was founded, marking the beginning of its pioneering role in the field of healthcare.

Johnson & Johnson expanded its presence and influence in the healthcare industry in 1861.

Johnson & Johnson continued its innovative contributions to healthcare in 1862.

1863 marked a significant milestone for Johnson & Johnson in its healthcare endeavors.

Johnson & Johnson achieved notable progress in the healthcare field in 1864.

Johnson & Johnson, a multinational corporation that produces pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and consumer goods, was founded in 1886.

Johnson & Johnson is a multinational corporation that produces pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and consumer goods. It was founded in 1886 and is one of the oldest and largest healthcare companies in the world.

In 1887, the Johnson brothers found their company based on the discoveries of Joseph Lister, particularly his antiseptic methods which revolutionized the field of medicine.

In 1888, Johnson & Johnson celebrated the 125th birthday of the First Aid Kit, showcasing its long history of providing essential medical supplies. The event highlighted the importance of first aid in saving lives and promoting health.

Johnson & Johnson provided medical aid to the injured survivors of a devastating 1889 flood, marking the beginning of its philanthropic legacy.

In 1894, Johnson & Johnson began selling its Baby Powder brand of talcum powder, marking the introduction of a product that would later become central to the company's talc-related controversies.

Johnson & Johnson becomes the first company to mass produce dental floss, making it affordable for people to take better care of their teeth. The floss is originally made from leftover suture silk.

Johnson & Johnson publishes the first First Aid Manuals, incorporating best practices from leading physicians, as part of its commitment to first aid. These manuals are included in the Company's First Aid Kits.

In 1920, Earle Dickson combined two Johnson & Johnson products to create the first commercial adhesive bandage. This invention revolutionized first aid and became a household medical essential, significantly impacting the company's consumer products.

Robert Wood Johnson II, known as General Johnson, takes over the leadership of Johnson & Johnson from his father, transforming the Company into a global decentralized Family of Companies.

In 1944, Johnson & Johnson became a publicly traded company and acquired Ethicon, a groundbreaking company for the production of sterile surgical sutures. This pivotal moment marked the company's financial and strategic expansion.

In 1959, J&J acquired McNeil Laboratories in the US and Cilag Chemie, AG in Europe, marking its significant entry into the field of pharmaceutical medicines. These acquisitions were pivotal for the company's growth and presence in the industry.

In 1961, Johnson & Johnson acquired the Belgian company Janssen Pharmaceutica, marking a significant expansion in the pharmaceutical industry.

The FDA launched an inquiry into asbestos in talcum powders in 1971 after New York City's environmental protection chief revealed that two unspecified brands of cosmetic talc appear to contain asbestos. J&J stressed that its baby powder does not contain asbestos.

In September 1982, the Tylenol scare began when seven individuals died in the Chicago metropolitan area after ingesting Extra Strength Tylenol laced with cyanide. This led to one of the first major recalls in American history and resulted in reforms in the packaging of over-the-counter substances and federal anti-tampering laws.

In 1997, Darlene Coker filed a case against Johnson & Johnson, marking the first legal action against the company related to talc products. The case brought attention to the potential link between J&J's talc products and cancer.

On December 20, 2006, Johnson & Johnson acquired Pfizer's consumer healthcare division, which included the manufacturing and distribution of Listerine.

In 2007, Johnson & Johnson sued Abbott Laboratories over the development and sale of the arthritis drug Humira, leading to a court case in which Abbott was ordered to pay Johnson & Johnson $1.84 billion.

In April 2010, Johnson & Johnson's subsidiary, McNeil Consumer Healthcare, voluntarily recalled 43 over-the-counter children's medicines, including Tylenol, due to manufacturing defects. The recall affected products shipped to multiple countries and a comprehensive quality assessment was initiated.

In August 2010, Johnson & Johnson's subsidiary, DePuy, recalled its ASR hip prostheses due to a high revision rate and adverse effects on patients. This led to lawsuits and significant damages, with estimates of costing Johnson & Johnson billions of dollars to resolve.

In a civil case, a jury orders Johnson & Johnson to pay $72 million in damages, marking the company's first major courtroom loss in the talc cases.

In May 2017, Johnson & Johnson reached an agreement to pay $33 million to several states to settle consumer fraud allegations in some of the company's over-the-counter drugs.

A California jury ordered Johnson & Johnson to pay $417 million to a woman who claimed she developed ovarian cancer after using the company's talc-based products. The verdict included $70 million in compensatory damages and $347 million in punitive damages. J&J announced that they would appeal the verdict.

Johnson & Johnson is ordered to pay a staggering $4.69 billion to cancer victims, leading to a surge of lawsuits against the company.

On August 26, 2019, an Oklahoma judge ordered Johnson & Johnson to pay $572 million for their part in the opioid crisis, marking a significant development in the legal battle against the company's involvement in the epidemic.

Amid safety concerns and increasing legal costs, Johnson & Johnson halts the sale of talc baby powder in North America.

On August 5, 2020, the US government agreed to pay more than $1 billion to Johnson & Johnson for the production of 100 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine, with the option to order up to 200 million additional doses.

Johnson & Johnson has been instrumental in protecting public health during outbreaks since the late 1800s through innovative methods.

Johnson & Johnson's single-dose COVID-19 vaccine received emergency use authorization from the FDA, providing a valuable addition to the vaccination efforts against the coronavirus.

Johnson & Johnson has been pioneering in safeguarding global public health for over a century, from introducing epidemic masks during the Spanish flu pandemic to developing an investigational COVID-19 vaccine.

Johnson & Johnson has been on a $30 billion spending spree, indicating a long-term strategic approach in their decision-making process.

Johnson & Johnson moves talc lawsuits to a new subsidiary, LTL Management, which subsequently declares bankruptcy.

An appeals court rejects Johnson & Johnson's bankruptcy strategy, ruling that the company improperly offloaded lawsuits.

A judge dismisses Johnson & Johnson's second attempt at a bankruptcy settlement, dealing another setback to the company.

Johnson & Johnson faces legal challenges over allegations that its talcum powder causes cancer. A judge dismissed the company’s attempt to settle thousands of lawsuits through bankruptcy for the second time.

Johnson & Johnson is making advances to help turn heart failure into heart recovery for the millions of adults in the U.S. living with the condition.