Johnson & Johnson Announces Opening of London Innovation Centre

-- Centre to Serve as European Hub to Accelerate Innovation across the Healthcare Landscape

-- Johnson & Johnson Chief Scientific Officer Celebrates Opening at London Expo Keynote

LONDON, March 13, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Johnson & Johnson today announced the opening of the Johnson & Johnson Innovation centre in London, one of four regional hubs being established this year in the world's leading innovation hotspots.  A part of Johnson & Johnson Innovation, the goal of the London innovation centre is to accelerate the best early stage science in the world and advance the development of new healthcare solutions.   

"Britain has a worldwide reputation for excellence in innovation - the investment by Johnson & Johnson here demonstrates this and I am delighted to welcome this new centre to the UK," says UK Secretary of State for Health Jeremy Hunt, who will be speaking at the Innovation Expo 2013 on Wednesday.

Johnson & Johnson Chief Scientific Officer and Worldwide Chairman, Pharmaceuticals, Paul Stoffels, MD, says, "The London Innovation Centre is part of Johnson & Johnson's broader innovation strategy to advance human health through collaboration with the world's leading scientists and entrepreneurs.  We are looking forward to collaborating within the UK, home to one of the world's thriving life sciences ecosystems." Dr. Stoffels will address the Expo on Wednesday afternoon.

The Johnson & Johnson Family of Companies has been investing in the United Kingdom since 1927 and supports directly or indirectly more than 24,000 jobs.  The London Innovation Centre will be one of more than a dozen facilities of the Johnson & Johnson Family of Companies in the country.   

Dr. Stoffels underscores Johnson & Johnson's shared commitment with the NHS to address some of today's most complex and devastating diseases such as Alzheimer's, dementia and Type 2 diabetes; and emphasizes the need for commitment from the healthcare community to support emerging companies and entrepreneurs in the UK who are bringing forward new science and technology.  "Science and technology hold unprecedented opportunities to transform healthcare, and by investing and collaborating in groundbreaking science we can deliver transformational innovations in healthcare to people across the world."

In addition to the new Johnson & Johnson Innovation centre in London, similar facilities are planned in Boston, San Francisco and, later this year, in Shanghai. Each city was selected for its robust life sciences community. 

The UK life sciences sector accounts for over 165,000 jobs and over £50 billion in business.  It is home to a uniquely powerful combination of world-leading universities and scientific experts; established R&D, manufacturing and supply chain; globally renowned research charities and the NHS.  This combination of outstanding features makes London an ideal innovation hub in Europe.

The Johnson & Johnson Innovation centre in London will house science and technology experts with broad expertise in developing new solutions and products.  The centre will have local deal-making capabilities to flexibly adapt deal structures to match early-stage opportunities. This will enable scientists, entrepreneurs and emerging companies to deliver innovation via collaboration with experts who can drive partnerships across the pharmaceutical, medical device & diagnostics and consumer healthcare companies of Johnson & Johnson.

"Our on-the-ground proximity to regional scientists and entrepreneurs will allow us to build the strong personal relationships that underlie the most successful collaborations and investment deals," remarked Patrick Verheyen, the head of the Johnson & Johnson Innovation centre in London.   "At Johnson & Johnson Innovation, we are committed to ensuring healthcare remains not only a significant source of economic prosperity in the UK, but also a driving force for improving the health and happiness of people worldwide."

Johnson & Johnson Innovation centre in London is located at 1 Chapel Place, London, W1G OBJ. For more information on the new innovation centres please contact jnjinnovation@its.jnj.com.

About Johnson & Johnson

Caring for the world, one person at a time…inspires and unites the people of Johnson & Johnson. We embrace research and science – bringing innovative ideas, products and services to advance the health and well-being of people. Our approximately 127,600 employees at more than 275 Johnson & Johnson operating companies work with partners in health care to touch the lives of over a billion people every day throughout the world.

For more information, visit www.jnj.com.

About J&J Innovation

The London innovation centre is part of Johnson & Johnson Innovation, a division of Johnson & Johnson Finance Corporation, Ltd.  Johnson & Johnson Innovation focuses on accelerating early innovation and enhancing opportunities for collaboration and investment across Johnson & Johnson's global healthcare businesses. Johnson & Johnson Innovation provides scientists, entrepreneurs and emerging companies focused on early-stage opportunities a one-stop access to science and technology experts who can facilitate collaborations across the pharmaceutical, medical device and diagnostics and consumer companies of Johnson & Johnson. Johnson & Johnson Innovation includes local deal-making capabilities with the flexibility to adapt deal structures to match early-stage opportunities and establish novel collaborations that speed development of those innovations to solve unmet needs in patients.  More information can be found here: www.jnjinnovation.com.

Forward-looking Statements

(This press release contains "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  The reader is cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations of future events.  If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or unknown risks or uncertainties materialise, actual results could vary materially from the expectations and projections of Johnson & Johnson.  Risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, general industry conditions and competition; economic factors, such as interest rate and currency exchange rate fluctuations; technological advances, new products and patents attained by competitors; challenges inherent in new product development, including obtaining regulatory approvals; challenges to patents; changes in behaviour and spending patterns or financial distress of purchasers of health care products and services; changes to governmental laws and regulations and domestic and foreign health care reforms; trends toward health care cost containment; and increased scrutiny of the health care industry by government agencies.  A further list and description of these risks, uncertainties and other factors can be found in Exhibit 99 of Johnson & Johnson's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 30, 2012.  Copies of this Form 10-K, as well as subsequent filings, are available online at www.sec.gov, www.jnj.com or on request from Johnson & Johnson. Johnson & Johnson do not undertake to update any forward-looking statements as a result of new information or future events or developments.)