Johnson reports sales of $15.9 bn

Johnson & Johnson has announced sales of $15.9 billion (9.18 billion pounds) for the third quarter of this year.

The company states this reflects an increase of 6.4 per cent in comparison to the same period in 2007.

Operational growth stood at 3.3 per cent and domestic sales increased by a total of four per cent.

International sales rose by 13.1 per cent, reflecting a positive currency impact of 6.6 per cent and global operational growth of 6.5 per cent.

William C Weldon, chairman and chief executive officer of the company, states Johnson & Johnson continues to achieve “solid earnings results” despite the impact made by generic products on its pharmaceutical business.

“Of note was the strong sales performance of our consumer segment and the solid sales results in our medical devices and diagnostics segment,” he adds.

Net earnings and diluted earnings per share for the three-month period were $3.3 billion and $1.17 respectively, the company reports, adding it increased its earnings guidance for full-year 2008 to $4.50 – $4.53 per share.

In recent days, Johnson & Johnson announced the US Food and Drug Administration had approved a new injection site for Risperdal Consta for schizophrenia treatment.