Johnson and Johnson tops industry innovation ranking

Johnson and Johnson has topped a new index aimed at honouring the most innovative and productive companies in the pharmaceutical industry.

The company came top of Idea Pharma's Productive Innovation Index ranking for the second consecutive year, with Novartis, Roche, Bristol-Myers Squibb and GlaxoSmithKline making up the remainder of the top five.

Evaluating 30 companies based on an analysis of their performance between 2008 and 2013, the report selected Johnson and Johnson for the top spot based on its success in the central nervous system, oncology, immunology and metabolism categories.

The launch of the breakthrough drug Imbruvica for mantle cell lymphoma and its continued investment in research and development also helped it to claim the title.

Mike Rea, chief executive officer of Idea Pharma, said: "Some of the companies which talk constantly of innovation are surprisingly underwhelming at bringing it to market, but on the flip side there are others – quietly – doing it exceptionally well."

This comes after Johnson and Johnson expanded its global business incubator presence to Israel last month, while announcing new collaborations at its innovation centres in the US and UK.