Ethicon Medical Device Company Intelligence Report

Ethicon is part of Johnson & Johnson's Medical Devices and Diagnostic Division. This report provides a full review of the company's activities.

Ethicon is a world leader in wound closure, producing products such as sutures, needles, topical adhesives, surgical meshes and wound drains. Through its Women's Health & Urology unit, Ethicon offers minimally-invasive treatments for common urologic and women's health conditions, such as incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, heavy menstrual bleeding, or uterine fibroids. In December 2008, the company’s biosurgical medicine business was expanded following the acquisition of Omrix Biopharmaceuticals. Ethicon also provides infection prevention solutions through its Advanced Sterilization Products division. Ethicon forms part of Johnson & Johnson’s Surgical Care Group of subsidiaries within its Medical Devices and Diagnostics business.

In January 2009, Ethicon’s business was enhanced through Johnson & Johnson’s acquisition of Mentor, which provides the company with an opportunity to strengthen its presence in aesthetic and reconstructive medicine. Mentor operates as a stand-alone business unit, but is reported financially through Ethicon.

Ethicon’s recent divestitures have included the December 2007 sale of its CardioVations business to Edwards Lifesciences. CardioVations' product line included port-access products, such as the EndoCPB and EndoDirect systems for minimally-invasive heart valve surgery, including soft tissue retractors, venous and arterial cannulae, vent and coronary sinus catheters, and reusable instruments for port-access cardiac valve procedures.

A year later, Ethicon completed the divestiture of its Professional Wound Care business to One Equity Partners. This included such wound care brands as Promogran Matrix Wound Dressing, Tielle Hydropolymer Dressing and Regranex (becaplermin) Gel 0.01%, a prescription treatment for lower extremity diabetic ulcers, as well as a portfolio of general wound care products. The professional wound care product portfolio is now marketed and distributed by Systagenix Wound Management, a new company created by One Equity Partners.

Ethicon was formerly known as Johnson Suture Corp. The company was founded in 1921 and is headquartered in Somerville, New Jersey, US. It also has facilities in Georgia, Texas, and North Carolina in the US; Aunea, France; Aurangabad and Dharavi (Mumbai), India; Juarez, Mexico; Kirkton, Scotland, UK; Neuchatel, Switzerland; Norderstedt, Germany; San Lorenzo, Puerto Rico; Sao Jose dos Campos, Brazil; and Shanghai, China.

In 2008, Ethicon generated sales of US$3.8 billion and employed approximately 8,500 people.