Advancing surgical tools and cancer treatments: Helping build a healthier S’pore

Many among us would remember our very first encounter with Johnson & Johnson – washing with their shampoo or slathering on their body lotion. Their products were often the only ones we used as children; occupying a special place in our collective consciousness.

But many may not know that Johnson & Johnson has evolved, blazing new trails into healthcare, especially in medical technology and innovative medicine.

As Johnson & Johnson celebrates its 50th anniversary in Singapore, the company looks back at its contributions to the nation’s health- and patient-care, as they continue to make strides in the medical arena.

“Our 50 years in Singapore have been defined by improving the lives of patients through healthcare innovation,” says Mr Marcus Desmond, Johnson & Johnson’s area general manager (Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia & Philippines) for innovative medicine. “It was a journey built on powerful collaboration and transformative science.”

Johnson & Johnson’s long-standing expertise in innovative medicine and medtech has enabled the company to deliver a full spectrum of healthcare solutions today. And it has done so without ever losing sight of the most important thing in its quest for excellence – putting the needs and well-being of the people they serve first.

Mr Kunal Bhatia, Johnson & Johnson’s head of Orthopaedics, South-east Asia and MedTech leader, Singapore, explains: “Fuelled by innovation at the intersection of biology and technology, our portfolio of smarter, less invasive, more personalised treatments is addressing the most complex diseases among patients in Singapore. From advanced mapping and navigation to robotic assisted solutions, we are delivering care in the hardest to reach parts within the human body. In Singapore, we are focused on restoring anatomy and reimagining healing in four key focus areas: interventional solutions, orthopaedics, surgery and vision.”

50 Years, 50 Voices

To mark Johnson & Johnson’s 50th anniversary in Singapore, the

50 Years, 50 Voices commemorative book

honours individuals who have made a significant difference in the lives of the people Johnson & Johnson serves, as well as the voices of those they have touched. Through stories from past and present employees, caregivers, patient advocates, clinicians and collaborators, discover the collective efforts that have driven progress and transformed lives in Singapore and around the world.

Carving out a path in medtech and medical innovations

In recent years, Johnson & Johnson has been making advancements in innovative solutions and therapies, such as for multiple myeloma, a type of blood cancer which has seen a notable increase in Asia.

Last year, the company announced another treatment for multiple myeloma — B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA)-directed CD3 T-cell-redirecting bispecific antibody.

“Our expansive portfolio of therapies is a clear sign of our long-standing commitment to tackling the unmet need of oncology patients,” says Mr Desmond.

Going beyond Singapore’s shores, Johnson & Johnson also extended support to the region with initiatives like the Asean Vats Collaboration Workshop, where participating surgeons from neighbouring countries came together to share knowledge about the latest life-saving procedures, eventually returning to their home countries to lead these surgeries and emerging as leaders in their own capacity.

“Through pioneering initiatives like the Asean Vats Collaboration Workshop, Robotic Knee Arthroplasty Surgery Centers of Excellence, and support for patient safety programs, we are helping transform patient care,” says Mr Bhatia. “Johnson & Johnson MedTech has helped position Singapore as an Asia-Pacific leader in minimally invasive soft tissue surgery and orthopaedic robotic surgery. Not only do we bring innovations to surgeons in Singapore, we continue to work alongside them to pursue new possibilities, empowering them to drive life-saving surgical solutions across South-east Asia.”

And of course, there is the company’s continued commitment to tackle a key threat to eye health here, myopia. In 2018, Johnson & Johnson launched a first-of-its-kind public-private research collaboration with the Singapore National Eye Centre and the Singapore Eye Research Institute, to address the growing myopia epidemic. “We remain committed to innovating bold solutions that shape the standard of care and improve healthy sight for patients at every stage in their eye health journey,” says Mr Bhatia. 

Setting its sights on the future 

As Johnson & Johnson moves forward, it remains hyper-focused on innovating across the full spectrum of healthcare solutions today to deliver the breakthroughs of tomorrow, leveraging Singapore’s position as an innovation hub to solve health challenges in the region.

To this end, the company also prioritises nurturing new talent and fresh perspectives, teaming up with the Economic Development Board last year to launch JLABS, an incubator designed to support early-stage start-ups in their quest to bring healthcare advancements to market. “We are committed to fostering the next generation of innovators,” says Mr Desmond, “so we provide entrepreneurs with the resources, mentorship, and collaborative environment they need to accelerate breakthroughs and bring transformative ideas to life.”

Johnson & Johnson’s patient-first philosophy and its commitment to healthcare innovation will remain its guiding tenets as it moves into its next 50 years. Looking ahead, Mr Desmond says: “We put the needs and well-being of those we serve first and foremost. We are dedicated to improving the lives of Singaporeans and addressing the country’s evolving healthcare needs through innovative medicines and cutting-edge medtech solution.”

“With our portfolio of smarter, less invasive, more personalised treatments for complex diseases, we’re committed to serving patients in Singapore for the next 50 years and beyond.”

View the 50 Years, 50 Voices commemorative book here.