Johnson & Johnson

Here’s an update on the court case currently underway in the U.S. which may prove a bellwether for future proceedings … continue reading “Kransky vs J&J DePuy Trial Closing Remarks”

J&J should pay a South Dakota nurse $3.35 million according to the jury in the much-reported vaginal mesh trial. They found that the company had failed to provide adequate warning of risks to the plaintiff’s doctor. J&J’s rebuttal to follow.

So did chromium from wear particles in DePuy’s ASR hip system poison Mr Kransky? A prominent toxicologist says no, but then his work is undermined by the plaintiff’s attorney who implies bias. It’s feisty stuff.

The Lawsuit Settlement Funding Company, which has been a public advocate for women victims of various vaginal and pelvic mesh implants, reported today that industry insiders close to the Ethicon Prolift mesh trial have advised them that the plaintiff’s case has raised serious concerns as to what J&J knew about the dangers of their mesh products.

Update on proceedings between “vasculopath” Loren Kransky and J&J (DePuy), centring on whether the company poisoned the plaintiff.

Ethicon Endo-Surgery says its ENSEAL® advanced bipolar devices are strong on sealing, yet gentle on tissue. And now with a new Articulating iteration these benefits can be exploited in the most difficult-to-access anatomies.

Bloomberg has reported on the pre-trial testimony of Paul Voorhorst, a DePuy biostatistician, as a preamble to proceedings in the case of Loren Kransky vs J&J (DePuy), for which the jury sits tomorrow (Friday 25th January). In it, previously unseen documents suggest that the company’s own estimates of failure rate for some of its metal-on-metal hip prostheses are now as high as 37%, significantly higher than the 12 or 13% cited in the original recall notices.

Today sees J&J’s annual business review at which the company says it will lay out its strategic ideas for growth. Its press release offers few surprises and could be summarised as “more of the same”, which is no bad thing looking at the financial results for 2012.

Ethicon, a division of J&J, has identified an issue in the packaging process for its SurgiFlo haemostatic matrix. It seems certain products, manufactured between September 16 2011 and July 27 2012 are susceptible to a potential breach of the double Tyvek pouch of the packaging.

Johnson & Johnson’s DePuy Synthes Spine business has a new Worldwide president in the form of Max Reinhardt, a long term employee of the company and most recently Vice President of Worldwide Marketing.

Ethicon Biosurgery, has announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved EVARREST™ Fibrin Sealant Patch, a novel product that it says rapidly and reliably aids in stopping problematic bleeding during surgery.

J&J subsidiary, Cordis has seen its Incraft AAA stent graft study results reach 1 year with no problems and 100% efficacy. The graft, with its 13Fr delivery system aims to extend EVAR To More Patients than currently indicated.

J&J subsidiary, Cordis Corporation has announced that the U.S. FDA has approved its S.M.A.R.T.® CONTROL® Vascular Stent Systems for use in the superficial femoral artery and/or the proximal popliteal artery.

Ethicon endo’s voluntary recall of certain Proximate Circular staplers during the summer has turned in to an FDA Class I recall due to the serious consequences that can befall the patient in whom the stapler has not completely fired.

J&J’s sales of $17.1Bn for the third quarter of 2012, represent an increase of 6.5% compared to Q3 2011. Synthes product sales contributed 5.8% to worldwide operational sales growth, net of the divestiture of the DePuy trauma business.

J&J division Ethicon, Inc., has followed Covidien into the barbed suture market with the launch of its new portfolio of Stratafix™ Knotless Tissue Control Devices. The idea is that barbed sutures offer significantly more points of fixation than traditional sutures, giving surgeons more consistent control over every pass (through the tissue), and combining the strength and security of interrupted closure with the efficiency of continuous closure.