Johnson & Johnson

Johnson & Johnson reported new Phase 3 results for its oral peptide ICOTYDE in plaque psoriasis at the 2026 EADV Congress, showing sustained skin clearance and improvement across multiple high-impact psoriasis sites, including in adolescent patients. Long-term data from the ICONIC-TOTAL study showed sustained skin clearance through Week 112 at high-impact sites such as the scalp, genital area, hands, feet and nails. The oral IL-23 inhibitor remains in clinical studies for other major inflammatory diseases beyond plaque psoriasis, including psoriatic arthritis, ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. ICOTYDE is already approved in the U.S., Europe, Japan and China, and the key test ahead is how the evidence translates into prescribing and reimbursement decisions in those markets. Johnson & Johnson is a global healthcare group that develops prescription drugs, medical devices and consumer health products.

Johnson & Johnson's economic moat rests on its ability to keep producing drugs rather than on any single drug, with the company's medical device business adding long-term hospital contracts that make switching suppliers closer to a retraining exercise than a purchasing decision. The company is worth about $638 billion and turns 29.19% of its $97.93 billion in revenue into operating profit, while return on equity reaches 25.74% and free cash flow ran to $16.89 billion over the past twelve months. Revenue grew 6.60% last quarter, and the balance sheet carries $49.04 billion of debt. On September 29, Bank of America raised its peak sales estimate for the oral psoriasis treatment Icotyde to $4.5 billion, from $2.4 billion previously, a test of whether the pipeline can replace revenue lost to patent expiries. Johnson & Johnson has spent years managing talc claims, and the shares now trade near 31 times trailing earnings but only about 21 times what analysts forecast for next year, on a yield of 2.02%.

BofA Securities raised its price target on Johnson & Johnson to $278 from $263 while keeping a Neutral rating, lifting its forecasts for Icotyde and updating its model for recent in-process research and development charges. The new target applies 22x BofA's 2027 earnings estimate excluding those charges, up from 20.33x, which the firm tied to a sector re-rating for defensive stocks. For the third quarter, BofA expects sales of $25.5 billion, in line with consensus, and EPS of $2.53, 12% below the Street, with J&J having disclosed $0.64 of in-process R&D dilution for 2026, mostly falling in the third quarter. BofA models 6% revenue growth, with Pharma up 7% and MedTech up 4%, and points to IQVIA data showing four-week rolling prescriptions up 50% year over year for Tremfya in inflammatory bowel disease and 60% for Caplyta in major depressive disorder. Separately, J&J is reportedly in talks with Apollo Global Management over a potential sale of its orthopedics unit, which could be valued at nearly $20 billion.

Johnson & Johnson announced new findings on IMAAVY, also known as nipocalimab-aahu, for generalized myasthenia gravis across 15 novel abstracts to be presented at the 2026 Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America Scientific Session and the American Association of Neuromuscular & Electrodiagnostic Medicine Annual Meeting. Two-year results from the Phase 2/3 Vibrance-MG long-term extension showed sustained disease control in adolescents with anti-AChR+ gMG, with mean changes from baseline of −2.88 points in MG-ADL and −8.25 points in QMG at Week 108, and of the six adolescent patients taking corticosteroids at study entry, three reduced their dose while one discontinued after two years on IMAAVY. A retrospective survey of healthcare professionals treating adults with anti-AChR+ or anti-MuSK+ gMG found fluctuating symptom control was the most common driver for discontinuing prior therapy at 54.6%, while among 97 patients who transitioned to IMAAVY, a consistent treatment schedule at 62.9% and hope for improved efficacy at 56.7% were the top reasons for initiating it. After transitioning, healthcare professionals reported 73.2% of patients were much improved or very much improved, 76.4% of patients receiving prednisone reduced their dose and 5.5% discontinued use. IMAAVY is currently the only FcRn blocker approved for pediatric patients 12 years of age and older with anti-AChR or anti-MuSK antibody-positive gMG by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Agency.

Johnson & Johnson announced top-line findings from its Phase 4 STAR study evaluating Tremfya in biologic-naive adults with active psoriatic arthritis and axial involvement, with the drug meeting primary and secondary endpoints. The study is the first randomized, placebo-controlled trial to prospectively evaluate an IL-23 inhibitor using objective MRI assessments, showing improvements in axial symptoms alongside MRI-confirmed reductions in joint inflammation. The result supports J&J's strategy of expanding its immunology growth drivers as legacy products face pressure; in Q2 2026 the company reported operational sales growth of 5.6% to $25.3 billion, led by 6.8% operational growth in Innovative Medicine, and raised full-year 2026 sales guidance to $101.1 billion at the midpoint, or 7.3% growth, with adjusted operational EPS guidance of $11.58. J&J still faces an approximately 760-basis-point operational growth drag from declining Stelara sales due to biosimilar entry, and MedTech growth moderated to 3.6% operational growth in the quarter. Tremfya's expanded addressable population must scale rapidly to replace Stelara's multi-billion-dollar cash flow stream, while litigation reserves and restructuring charges remain near-term headwinds.

Johnson & Johnson said Caplyta met the main goal of a late-stage study in bipolar mania, a potential new use for the drug acquired through its $14.6 billion purchase of Intra-Cellular Therapies. In the Phase 3 trial, a once-daily 42-milligram dose of Caplyta significantly reduced symptoms of bipolar mania compared with placebo in adults with manic episodes associated with bipolar I disorder, with roughly 46% of treated patients achieving a clinical response versus about 21% on placebo. Patients began showing improvement as early as three days after starting treatment, and the benefits were maintained through the study's three-week duration; the trial also met a key secondary goal measuring overall severity of illness. Caplyta is currently approved in the United States for depressive episodes associated with bipolar I and bipolar II disorder, as well as schizophrenia, and J&J noted that bipolar disorder affects an estimated 37 million people worldwide. The use remains experimental for bipolar mania, and investors will be watching regulatory timelines, potential sales contributions and the size of the addressable market to gauge how much value the indication could add to J&J's neuroscience business.

Johnson & Johnson reported new clinical data for TECVAYLI plus DARZALEX FASPRO, CARVYKTI, and TREMFYA in multiple myeloma and axial psoriatic arthritis. The MajesTEC-3 results for TECVAYLI plus DARZALEX FASPRO in early line relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma point to a regimen that achieved an estimated 83% overall survival rate at 3 years and a 90% reduction in disease progression risk versus standard care. CARVYKTI's five year, treatment free remissions in 50% of CARTITUDE-2 cohort A patients without maintenance therapy highlight a one time cell therapy treatment model. TREMFYA data support an axial psoriatic arthritis label expansion. The company, a US$653.6b pharmaceuticals player, now faces execution tests including regulatory decisions on label expansions and how quickly guideline bodies and major cancer centers incorporate TECVAYLI combinations and CARVYKTI earlier in treatment.

Johnson & Johnson announced that a single infusion of CARVYKTI, also known as ciltacabtagene autoleucel or cilta-cel, left 50% of patients in early line relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma alive and progression-free for at least five years without maintenance therapy. The findings come from the initial subgroup of cohort A of the Phase 2 CARTITUDE-2 study, which enrolled 20 patients who had received one to three prior lines of therapy, were exposed to a proteasome inhibitor, and were refractory to lenalidomide. At a median follow-up of 60.7 months, the five-year overall survival rate was 69.2% and median progression-free survival was 60.5 months, with long-term remissions seen even among patients carrying high-risk cytogenetic features. The safety profile was consistent with the known profile of cilta-cel, with no new CAR T-cell-related neurotoxicity, though one patient developed acute myeloid leukaemia and two deaths occurred due to progressive disease and new cancer. The results were presented at the International Myeloma Society Annual Meeting and build on the durable, treatment-free remissions observed in the CARTITUDE-1 study, reinforcing that earlier treatment with cilta-cel may increase long-term remission and disease control.

Johnson & Johnson's RYBREVANT plus chemotherapy delivered a median overall survival of 34.3 months in the final overall-survival analysis of the Phase 3 PAPILLON study, versus 27.9 months for chemotherapy alone, in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer carrying EGFR exon 20 insertion mutations. J&J described the result as the longest reported median overall survival in this patient population, where historical median overall survival has ranged from approximately 16 to 24 months and historical five-year survival has been reported at just 8%. The protocol-specified final overall-survival analysis produced a hazard ratio of 0.87, a 95% confidence interval of 0.66 to 1.14, and a P-value of 0.307, meaning it did not reach statistical significance, a result complicated by crossover, as 76% of eligible patients in the chemotherapy arm crossed over to second-line RYBREVANT after disease progression. A prespecified analysis accounting for that crossover showed a 43% reduction in the risk of death with first-line RYBREVANT plus chemotherapy, with a hazard ratio of 0.57, while progression-free survival through second disease progression reached 28.3 months with the RYBREVANT combination versus 17.5 months with chemotherapy. J&J reported no new safety signals with longer follow-up, though the most common treatment-related adverse events occurring in at least 30% of patients included paronychia and neutropenia, each at 60%, and rash at 58%.

Apollo Global Management is in discussions to acquire Johnson & Johnson's orthopedics business, DePuy Synthes, in a potential transaction valuing the unit at close to $20 billion, according to Bloomberg. The unit, which J&J previously announced plans to separate within an 18-to-24-month timeframe, generated $9.3 billion in 2025 revenue. An agreement could be reached within weeks, though J&J is also weighing a tax-efficient public market spin-off. For Apollo, the deal would deploy capital into a scaled medical technology franchise at roughly 2.2 times 2025 revenue, while for J&J an upfront cash sale would accelerate its pivot toward higher-growth areas such as Oncology, Immunology, and Cardiovascular. Risks include medical device litigation liabilities and integration complexity for Apollo, and sacrificed long-term cash flows for J&J.

Nanobiotix reported its first half 2026 operational and financial results, disclosing €110.9 million in cash and cash equivalents as of June 30, 2026, up from €52.8 million at December 31, 2025, and said that balance will fund operations into 2029. The company strengthened its position through an oversubscribed global follow-on offering completed in May 2026 with the underwriters' over-allotment option fully exercised, bringing total gross proceeds to approximately €86 million. Revenue and other income fell to €5.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2026, from €26.6 million a year earlier, mainly because the first half of 2025 included a one-off non-cash positive revenue impact of €21.2 million tied to the transfer of NANORAY-312 study sponsorship to Johnson & Johnson. R&D expenses declined to €12.7 million from €14.5 million, SG&A expenses eased to €10.8 million from €11.3 million, and net loss attributable to common shareholders widened to €34.3 million, or €0.70 basic loss per share, from €5.4 million, or €0.11 basic loss per share. On the clinical side, full cohort analysis of the completed dose-escalation and expansion phases of a Phase 1 study of JNJ-1900 (NBTXR3) in inoperable, locoregionally recurrent non-small cell lung cancer amenable to re-irradiation showed a one-year locoregional control rate of 79%, one-year local progression-free survival of 61% and one-year overall survival of 70% at a median follow-up of 12 months, with all 24 patients completing treatment with no dose-limiting toxicities and no Grade 3 or higher related adverse events. The Johnson & Johnson-led Phase 2 CONVERGE study in Stage 3 unresectable NSCLC showed an overall response rate of 85.7% and a complete response rate of 57.1% in 7 patients at ESTRO 2026, and the U.S. FDA cleared a protocol amendment to the Johnson & Johnson-led Phase 3 NANORAY-312 study in locally advanced platinum-ineligible head and neck cancer that eliminated the previously planned interim analysis and moved the final analysis to fewer events conducted sooner.

The global medical robots market is projected to grow from USD 20.6 billion in 2026 to USD 41.7 billion by 2031, a 15.1% compound annual growth rate, according to a new report added to ResearchAndMarkets.com. Robotic systems are expected to account for the largest share of the market by product and service, while surgical robotic systems, which led by type in 2025, are expected to see significant growth as surgical volumes rise. Ambulatory surgery centers are projected to register the highest end-user growth rate, and Asia Pacific is positioned as the fastest-growing regional market. Key players profiled include Intuitive Surgical, Stryker, Medtronic, and Johnson & Johnson. The report notes that high system and maintenance costs, stringent regulatory requirements, and specialized training needs may limit adoption.

Johnson & Johnson announced new model-based analyses from the Phase 3 MajesTEC-3 study suggesting that TECVAYLI (teclistamab-cqyv) plus DARZALEX FASPRO (daratumumab and hyaluronidase-fihj), known as Tec-Dara, may redefine long-term survival expectations in early line relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. Using a relative survival mixture cure model applied to 291 patients treated with Tec-Dara and 296 treated with the standard of care comparator DPd/DVd, the analysis estimated that approximately 87% of Tec-Dara patients may experience a mortality risk and projected life expectancy similar to an age-matched general population, with best-fit cure fractions of 86.6% for overall survival versus 0% for DPd/DVd. Model-projected remaining life expectancy was 18.5 years with Tec-Dara, nearly four times the 4.9 years projected with DPd/DVd and approaching 21.1 years for the matched general population. A separate post hoc analysis showed that at 36 months the cumulative incidence of disease progression was 8.7% with Tec-Dara versus 62.1% with DPd/DVd, a 90% reduction in the risk of disease progression, while the 36-month overall survival rate was 83.3% versus 65.0% and non-relapse mortality showed no significant difference at 10.2% versus 9.0%. The data, presented in two oral sessions at the International Myeloma Society Annual Meeting, follow the March 2026 U.S. FDA approval of TECVAYLI in combination with DARZALEX FASPRO for patients who have received at least one prior line of therapy and an August 2026 European Commission indication extension introducing the combination as early as second line.

Johnson & Johnson announced positive top-line data from a pivotal phase III study evaluating Caplyta (lumateperone) for treating manic episodes, with or without mixed features, in adults with bipolar I disorder. In Study 451, the first of two pivotal phase III studies of Caplyta in bipolar I mania, patients treated with once-daily Caplyta (42 mg) achieved a 4.8-point greater reduction in Young Mania Rating Scale total score versus placebo at week three, with significant improvement seen as early as day three, the study's primary endpoint. The proportion of patients achieving at least a 50% reduction in YMRS total score was more than twice as high with Caplyta as with placebo, at 45.8% versus 20.9%, respectively, and the safety and tolerability profile was similar to Caplyta's established profile. Management noted that the second pivotal phase III study, Study 452, has been completed, with data analysis underway. Caplyta, an atypical antipsychotic added to J&J's neuroscience portfolio through the 2025 acquisition of Intra-Cellular Therapies, generated sales of $631 million in the first half of 2026 and is not presently approved for the treatment of manic episodes associated with bipolar I disorder; J&J believes it has the potential to deliver peak sales of $5 billion.

Johnson & Johnson received FDA approval for ICOTYDE, also known as icotrokinra, to treat moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in the United States. The therapy targets the IL-23 receptor and is in Phase III clinical trials for a potential psoriatic arthritis indication, extending the company's immunology pipeline beyond oncology and MedTech into chronic inflammatory skin and joint conditions. The approval fits Johnson & Johnson's strategy of leaning on next generation immunology drugs to offset pressure from STELARA's loss of exclusivity and ongoing litigation. Investors will be watching two markers: the timing and results of the Phase III psoriatic arthritis data readout, and how quickly Johnson & Johnson reports ICOTYDE uptake in psoriasis through segment disclosures or commentary. The company carries a US$650.6b market cap, giving it resources to fund long, data heavy late stage programs such as the psoriatic arthritis trials.

DePuy Synthes is showcasing its latest trauma innovations at the 2026 Orthopaedic Trauma Association Annual Meeting in Nashville, including four new VOLT plating systems, the MAXFRAME AUTOSTRUT with Bluetooth Multi-Axial Correction System, VELYS Trauma AI Assisted Surgery, and an expanded procedural solutions offering. The four new plating systems expand the company's flagship VOLT fracture fixation platform across the ankle, knee, and shoulder, extending its anatomic plating portfolio into some of the most common and clinically demanding fracture procedures. The MAXFRAME AUTOSTRUT with Bluetooth Multi-Axial Correction System is now commercially available in the U.S. and is described as the first and only system to combine fully automated device adjustments with real-time remote monitoring and treatment management for complex limb reconstruction. VELYS Trauma AI-Assisted Surgery, which delivers intraoperative surgical guidance and fracture reduction assistance with precise 3D guidance without trackers or reference bodies, is launching in the U.S. in 2027. The company is also expanding its trauma commercial portfolio to include a comprehensive soft tissue portfolio featuring DYNACORD, GRYPHON, SUPERHAWK, and HEALIX Anchor technologies, and will offer interactive demos of its SOURCEVIEW Analytics Platform. Paolo Di Vincenzo, Global President of Trauma at DePuy Synthes, said an estimated 178 million new fractures occur globally each year and that the company is expanding into connected care across the entire skeleton.

The AI Structural Biology Network, powered by Apheris, launched AISB Bind, a federated initiative in which AbbVie, AstraZeneca, Bristol Myers Squibb, and Johnson & Johnson will collaboratively train an AI model to predict how small molecules bind to protein targets for virtual screening and lead optimization. The new initiative extends the network's first effort, which focused on protein-ligand structure prediction, where a co-folding model fine-tuned across more than 20,000 proprietary structures from active drug-discovery programs raised the share of high-quality predictions from 36% to 52%, outperforming public models and any model fine-tuned on a single partner's data alone. In AISB Bind, the four founding partners contribute three complementary types of data: experimentally determined structures, quantitative affinity and potency measurements, and high-throughput screening activity data, the last adding a large body of confirmed non-binders that is rarely available at industrial scale. Training runs through federated learning, so each partner's proprietary data stays within its own secure environment, with Apheris hosting the network and running the training and each partner receiving the resulting model to run and further tailor internally. Federated training begins in September 2026, with final models expected in early 2027, powered by the infrastructure of Apheris's technology partner, Amazon Web Services.

Johnson & Johnson's Caplyta met its primary endpoint in a late-stage bipolar mania study, sending shares up about 0.8% to $272.34 on Monday. Roughly 46% of patients on the once-daily 42-milligram dose achieved a clinical response versus about 21% on placebo, with improvement emerging within three days and continuing through the three-week study. Caplyta already treats schizophrenia and depressive episodes associated with bipolar disorder, so a mania win could push it deeper into the broader bipolar treatment cycle. The result matters because Johnson & Johnson spent $14.6 billion to acquire Caplyta developer Intra-Cellular Therapies, and a broader label would help justify that price. A positive trial is not regulatory approval, however, and investors still need to watch the filing timeline, eventual label language and physician uptake, especially with the stock trading 40.72% above its GF Value of $193.54.

Apollo Global Management is reportedly in talks to acquire Johnson & Johnson's DePuy Synthes orthopedics business in a transaction that could value the unit at close to $20 billion, according to Bloomberg, as reported by Reuters. J&J generated $9.3 billion of revenue from the orthopedics business in 2025, making the potential deal material for both companies, and discussions could reach an agreement within weeks, though J&J is also considering a public-market spin-off. The talks are consistent with J&J's October 2025 decision to separate DePuy Synthes within an expected 18-to-24-month timeframe and shift its MedTech portfolio toward higher-growth, higher-margin businesses. For Apollo, the roughly $20 billion valuation against $9.3 billion of 2025 revenue implies a price-to-sales multiple of about 2.2x, and the firm had approximately $1.05 trillion of assets under management as of June 30, 2026, including $198 billion in equity strategies and $849 billion in credit strategies. The principal risk for Apollo is paying a full valuation for a business J&J itself has been restructuring, with $307 million of restructuring expense in 2025 following $167 million in 2024 and $319 million in 2023, and Reuters reported that DePuy Synthes faces lawsuits related to its hip-replacement devices.

Johnson & Johnson announced new Phase 2b COPERNICUS study results showing low rates of treatment-related events for subcutaneous RYBREVANT FASPRO plus LAZCLUZE with prophylactic strategies in previously untreated advanced EGFR-mutated non-small cell lung cancer. In the analysis of 214 U.S. patients at a median follow-up of 8.3 months, rash was reported in 25 percent of patients, while administration-related reactions and venous thromboembolism were each reported in three percent, and only eight percent discontinued treatment due to adverse events. These rates are numerically lower than those seen with intravenous RYBREVANT plus LAZCLUZE in the Phase 3 MARIPOSA study, where rash, administration-related reactions and venous thromboembolism during the first four months were reported in 55 percent, 55 percent and 23 percent of patients, respectively. COPERNICUS is one of the largest global studies in EGFR-mutated NSCLC, with a target enrollment of 300 previously untreated patients; the reported population had a median age of 67 years, with 27 percent Asian, 10 percent African American and 10 percent Hispanic or Latino. The data were presented at the IASLC 2026 World Conference on Lung Cancer in Seoul.

Johnson & Johnson said it remains on track to grow through biosimilar competition for STELARA and expects its medicines, medical devices and pipeline to support accelerating growth through the end of the decade. Speaking at a Morgan Stanley event, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman Joaquin Duato said the company's current guidance calls for 6.5% adjusted operational sales growth and 7.3% adjusted earnings-per-share growth in 2026, with total revenue expected to exceed $100 billion for the first time. Duato said 2027 should be a better year than 2026 and that the company has line of sight to double-digit growth by the end of the decade, with more detail to come at an enterprise business review in early December. John Reed, executive vice president of Innovative Medicine and R&D, said Johnson & Johnson has 12 molecules that have achieved proof of concept and are in Phase III development, and that beyond DARZALEX it has 10 marketed medicines still early in their product life cycles. Capital allocation priorities center on launches such as ICOTYDE, INLEXZO, RYBREVANT, IMAAVY and the OTTAVA robotic surgical system, plus pipeline funding and earlier-stage business development, including the recent acquisitions of Halda Therapeutics and Firefly Bio and a collaboration with an option to acquire Sail. Duato said the company can reach double-digit growth this decade without acquisitions but views M&A as a way to reinforce growth into the following decade.

Johnson & Johnson announced that first-line intravenous RYBREVANT (amivantamab-vmjw) plus carboplatin-pemetrexed chemotherapy achieved the longest reported median overall survival in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer with EGFR exon 20 insertion mutations, according to the final overall survival analysis of the Phase 3 PAPILLON study. Patients treated with the combination reached a median overall survival of nearly three years, or 34.3 months, compared with 27.9 months for chemotherapy alone, extending median overall survival by more than six months despite 76 percent of eligible patients in the chemotherapy arm crossing over to second-line RYBREVANT after disease progression. A prespecified analysis accounting for that crossover showed a significant overall survival benefit with the combination, reducing the risk of death by 43 percent, with a hazard ratio of 0.57 and a nominal P value of 0.003. The results, presented during the Presidential Symposium at the IASLC 2026 World Conference on Lung Cancer in Seoul, mark significant progress for a patient population with a historical five-year survival rate of just 8 percent. RYBREVANT is a first-in-class bispecific antibody designed to dual-target EGFR and MET, and it is currently approved for EGFR-mutated advanced NSCLC across common and exon 20 insertion mutations in the first- and second-line settings.

Johnson & Johnson has received CE Marking for ACUVUE OASYS MAX 2-Week, a new reusable contact lens that brings the company's advanced MAX technologies to the reusable segment of its ACUVUE OASYS MAX portfolio. The lens will be rolled out in select European countries later this year, with wider market expansion planned throughout 2027 and 2028, subject to local regulatory approvals and market readiness. The product features an OptiBlue Light Filter that filters at least 60% of blue-violet light, the highest among reusable contact lenses, along with TearStable Technology and Class 1 UV blocking in each lens. In clinical testing, 99% of subjects wearing ACUVUE OASYS 2-Week were successfully refit into ACUVUE OASYS MAX 2-Week with the same power, base curve and diameter. Globally, 140 million people wear contact lenses, with one in two choosing a reusable lens, and the company said comfort remains their leading priority. The lens has received CE Marking for European markets but is not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and is not available for sale in the United States at this time.

Johnson & Johnson MedTech Chairman Tim Schmid said the company remains confident it is delivering growth at the high end of its previously stated 5% to 7% operational market-growth range for 2022 through 2027, citing a portfolio shift toward cardiovascular products and continued investment in differentiated technologies. Speaking at a Wells Fargo fireside chat, Schmid said the planned separation of the orthopedics business is expected around mid-2027, with greater clarity on the method before year-end. Cardiovascular, which Schmid called the largest and fastest-growing MedTech market, is expected to become Johnson & Johnson's largest and fastest-growing MedTech business by the first quarter of next year, driven by the Abiomed and Shockwave acquisitions and its electrophysiology operations. Schmid acknowledged competitive pressure in EP, especially outside the U.S., and said China's volume-based procurement could affect the EP market later this year and into 2027. He also noted that feedback on the FDA-approved OTTAVA surgical robot has been resoundingly positive, with pilot sites being selected and details expected at the Dec. 8 Investor Day, and that the company remains confident it can meet the guidance it raised in July.

Johnson & Johnson announced that 24 abstracts featuring clinical data and real-world evidence across its neuropsychiatry portfolio will be presented at the 2026 Psych Congress Annual Meeting in New Orleans from September 15-19. Among the highlights are the first presentation of pivotal Phase 3 data for CAPLYTA in adults with bipolar mania, along with additional CAPLYTA data in bipolar depression and major depressive disorder, and new analyses of SPRAVATO on anhedonia. The company will also present Phase 3 data for seltorexant in major depressive disorder with insomnia symptoms, and real-world studies on its long-acting injectables for schizophrenia. Jane Tiller, Vice President and Global Head of Development for Neuroscience at Johnson & Johnson, emphasized the company's commitment to advancing research in areas where patients and clinicians face significant treatment challenges.

DelveInsight projects the ulcerative colitis market across the seven major markets—the US, EU4, UK, and Japan—will grow from approximately USD 9.4 billion in 2025 at a CAGR of 7.6% through 2036, driven by novel targeted therapies and a robust pipeline of late-stage candidates. Among these, Abivax's obefazimod, a first-in-class oral miR-124 enhancer, met its primary endpoint in Phase III ABTECT induction studies, with a pooled placebo-adjusted clinical remission rate of 16.4% at Week 8. Merck's tulisokibart, acquired via Prometheus Biosciences, achieved clinical remission in the Phase 3 ATLAS-UC study, while Roche's afimkibart, from its $7.1 billion Telavant acquisition, showed a 35% remission rate in Phase IIb TUSCANY-2. Johnson & Johnson and Protagonist Therapeutics' icotrokinra, a first-in-class oral IL-23 receptor antagonist, met its primary endpoint in the Phase 2b ANTHEM-UC trial, and Teva and Sanofi's duvakitug, backed by a $400 million Blackstone funding deal, is in Phase III. These therapies target unmet needs in moderate-to-severe disease, with the market shifting toward IL-23 inhibitors and oral advanced therapies, though biosimilars and established anti-TNFs remain widely used.

A new report from ResearchAndMarkets.com projects the global surgical robots market will grow from USD 10.6 billion in 2026 to USD 22.9 billion by 2035, a compound annual growth rate of about 8.9%. The expansion is driven by demand for minimally invasive surgery, AI integration, and compact systems that lower capital costs. North America is expected to lead the market, while Asia-Pacific is forecast to see the fastest growth. Key players include Intuitive Surgical, Medtronic, Johnson & Johnson, and Stryker. Recent developments include Medtronic's FDA clearance for its Hugo system in urology and a partnership between Ronovo Surgical and Johnson & Johnson Medical Shanghai.

Protagonist Therapeutics reported second-quarter 2026 results that flipped the company from a loss to a $162.8 million profit, or $2.29 per diluted share, compared with a $34.8 million loss a year earlier. The swing came as the company banked payments tied to two drugs: ICOTYDE, an oral psoriasis treatment, and rusfertide, an injectable awaiting an FDA decision. ICOTYDE, approved on March 18, triggered a $50 million milestone payment from partner Johnson & Johnson, with up to $580 million more in milestones and royalties averaging around 7.25 percent at $4 billion in annual sales. Rusfertide, under Priority Review with a PDUFA date in August, has already brought in $200 million from partner Takeda, with another $200 million and a $75 million approval milestone due, plus royalties up to 29 percent of sales above $1.5 billion. However, $192.4 million of the $213.5 million in license and collaboration revenue came from recognizing Takeda's opt-out payment, not repeatable product sales, and management expects R&D costs to rise significantly in the second half of 2026. Cash and marketable securities stood at $849.5 million, with short interest at 13.99 percent of float and a forward P/E of 36.90 as of September 4.

Johnson & Johnson has struck a deal to collaborate with Sail Biomedicines to develop in vivo CAR-T therapies for immune-mediated diseases, paying $785 million upfront and up to $140 million in milestones, with an option to acquire Sail for $2.58 billion. The global CAR-T therapy market is projected to grow from $2.69 billion in 2022 to $35.9 billion by 2032, a compound annual growth rate of 28.5%. Johnson already markets Carvykti for multiple myeloma, while Bristol-Myers Squibb's Breyanzi franchise targets B-cell lymphomas and leukemias. At the end of the second quarter, 117 hedge funds held Johnson stock, up from 113, while Bristol was held by 74, down from 83. Johnson's short interest stands at 0.90% of float, compared with 2.25% for Bristol.

The US FDA has expanded the use of Johnson & Johnson's Stelara (ustekinumab) to pediatric patients two years and older with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis. Approval was based on study data on Stelara in ulcerative colitis in adults, pharmacokinetic and safety data from pediatric patients between two and 17 years old, and additional data from a 52-week study in 112 pediatric patients between 3 and 17 years old with the condition. Johnson & Johnson received Orphan Drug designation in the indication. In April, the FDA approved Stelara for Crohn's disease in the same age group.

U.S. pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson (J&J) announced on the 27th that Chinese drug regulators have approved its oral psoriasis treatment Icotide. China has more than 8.4 million psoriasis patients, and in this market, J&J's Tremfya, Bristol-Myers Squibb's Sotyktu, and AbbVie's Skyrizi are among the competitors. Analysts point out that Icotide, as a once-daily oral medication, could become a blockbuster and take market share from injectables. Icotide is approved for the treatment of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis, and Chinese companies such as InnoCare Pharma and Takeda are also developing oral treatments.