Johnson & Johnson invests in China for healthcare innovation

Global healthcare giant Johnson & Johnson, based in the United States, has vowed to further promote an innovation strategy to support China and the world to fight the pandemic and advance the development of public health.

With a number of innovative products, technologies and solutions displayed on-site, the company is showing its determination and confidence for long-term development in China at the third China International Import Expo, held from Nov 5-10.

The company's exhibits include seven global product debuts, 13 Asian product debuts and 38 China product debuts, according to the company.

"The CIIE is an important platform for the country to expand reform and opening-up, support innovation and create a better international business environment," said Will Song, global senior vice-president and China chairman of Johnson& Johnson.

Johnson & Johnson was one of the first multinational companies to announce its participation at the CIIE.

It served as the vice-chair of the CIIE Enterprise Alliance at the previous two editions of the expo.

"After the previous two expos, Johnson & Johnson's cutting-edge, innovative products and healthcare solutions sped up their entry into China to meet the growing health needs of Chinese patients and consumers, which plays a positive role in building an open innovation system," Song said.

At this year's CIIE, Johnson & Johnson has established two exhibition booths with a combined floor area of more than 1,000 square meters.

With the theme "Johnson & Johnson, Innovating for Life", the company not only showcases its 35-year development and innovation journey in China, but displays innovative products, cutting-edge technologies and solutions from all its business sectors, including medical devices and pharmaceuticals, as well as consumer health and vision.

Other highlights include the latest results from business startups at its innovation incubator JLABS.

A mini edition of JLABS in Shanghai, the world's largest of its kind and first in the Asia-Pacific region, is set up at the booth. There visitors can take a sneak peek into innovative breakthroughs from life-science research.

During the expo, the company announced a series of cooperation programs with partners to seize more development opportunities in China.

Fight against pandemic

As the COVID-19 virus sweeps across the world, a public health and epidemic prevention exhibition zone has been set up by the organizer of the CIIE this year.

At this zone, Johnson & Johnson is displaying its results in fighting the pandemic and response to the global public health crisis, such as vaccine development, COVID-19 prevention measures, solutions to tuberculosis and AIDS.

Other results also include public welfare projects caring for the health needs of women and children and communication platforms built for disease prevention and control.

After the outbreak of COVID-19 earlier this year, Johnson& Johnson immediately mobilized its global and local resources. The company donated medical supplies, products and cash to China's front-line health workers and communities, totaling more than 30 million yuan ($4.54 million).

So far, the company is working with partners around the world to speed up the development of a COVID-19 vaccine candidate, which has entered the third phase of clinical trial, according to the company.

"Now we are working hard to scale up manufacturing capacity and global supply to provide a safe and effective vaccine to the world," Song said.

Despite the influence of COVID-19, the company's business in the Chinese market has recovered rapidly. Its medical devices, pharmaceuticals, consumer health and vision sectors have seen strong growth in China since the second quarter, leading the global market, according to Johnson & Johnson.

Its medical device business achieved double-digit growth in both the second and third quarters, increasing its share of the global market.

Innovation strategy

Johnson & Johnson was among the first group of multinational companies to enter the Chinese market. It founded its first joint venture, Xian Janssen Pharmaceutical, in 1985.

"Over its 35 years of development, Johnson & Johnson has not only witnessed the rapid development of the healthcare industry in China and the great achievements it has made, but also actively participated in and benefited from it," Song said.

"Now we have introduced all our diversified business sectors to the market and all of them have achieved excellent development to better serve local patients and consumers."

Song noted that in the near future Johnson & Johnson will further increase its investment in localized research and development and boost innovation. So far, all of its business sectors have established their own local R&D teams in China.

Over the past few years, the company has invested heavily in innovation development. In 2014, its first Asia Pacific Innovation Center was opened to promote local R&D.

In 2019, its innovation arm JLABS in Shanghai was revealed at eastern Shanghai's Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park. The 4,400-sq-m innovation incubator can house more than 50 startups. It is an important part for Johnson& Johnson to build an open innovation ecosystem, enhancing innovation and cooperation among industry partners and academic institutions.

According to Song, Johnson & Johnson will also further improve its high-end manufacturing capacity in the Chinese market and accelerate the nationwide growth of the advanced manufacturing industry.

In 2019, Xian Janssen invested $397 million to build a new supply chain innovation hub in Xi'an. Johnson & Johnson Medical established a new Ethicon factory in Suzhou Industrial Park with an investment of $180 million.

"Relying on the 'end-to-end' supply chain in China, we can respond to patients' needs quickly and efficiently and set a benchmark in China's healthcare industry," Song said.