Johnson & Johnson highlights R&D pipeline with plans to file for 11 drug approvals by 2015; GAVI seat for Crucell

US health care major Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) yesterday reviewed its growth strategies for its Pharmaceuticals business at a meeting with the investment community today. The company, which is in the process of launching six key pharmaceuticals products since 2009, said it plans to file for approval of 11 new drugs - and over 30 indication extensions - by 2015 as it moves to expand its pharmaceutical business.

With the pharmaceutical market at an estimated $850 billion globally and expected to grow to more than $1,000 billion by 2015, the J&J pharmaceuticals business will grow its geographic footprint and increase investments in emerging markets, evaluating market appropriate commercial approaches and portfolios, the drugmaker said. It also remains focused on key developed markets. Japan, the second largest pharmaceuticals market, is a key growth market and the company's pharmaceuticals businesses have seven launches planned there for 2011.

In 2010, J&J posted drug sales of $22.4 billion and invested $4.4 billion on pharmaceuticals R&D focused on five therapeutic areas, J&J has six new drugs that could drive $6 billion in new product sales by 2015, according to Sanford Bernstein analyst Derrick Sung, quoted by The Irish Times. They are (ustekinumab) for psoriasis, Simponi (golimumab) for rheumatoid arthritis, Zytiga (abiraterone) for prostate cancer, Edurant (rilpivirine) for HIV and Xarelto (rivaroxaban) for the prevention of thrombosis. This list also includes Vertex's hepatitis C drug Incivek (telaprevir), for which J&J holds the European rights.