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<TYPE>EX-99.15 OTH FIN ST
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<FILENAME>eightkresults.txt
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Exhibit 99.15

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J., Apr 13, 2004 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via
COMTEX/ -- Johnson & Johnson today announced sales for the
first quarter of $11.6 billion, an increase of 17.7% over
the prior year. The increase represented operational growth
of 12.3% and a currency impact of 5.4%. Domestic sales were
up 15.1%, while international sales increased 21.8%,
including operational growth of 7.8% and a positive currency
impact of 14.0%.

Net earnings and diluted earnings per share for the first
quarter were $2.5 billion and $.83, increases of 20.4% and
20.3%, respectively, as compared with the same period in
2003. Prior-year first-quarter net earnings included after-
tax in-process research and development charges of $15
million for costs associated with the acquisitions of 3-
Dimensional Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Orquest, Inc.

"I'm pleased with the first-quarter results; they are truly
a reflection of our broad base, one of the key strengths of
Johnson & Johnson," said William C. Weldon, Chairman and
Chief Executive Officer.

Worldwide Medical Devices and Diagnostic sales of $4.1
billion for the first quarter represented an increase over
the prior year of 22.9%, with operational growth of 16.1%
and a positive impact from currency of 6.8%. Domestic sales
increased 25.5%, while international sales increased 20.2%
(5.9% from operations and 14.3% from currency).

Cordis' circulatory disease management products were a key
contributor to the segment results, with the primary driver
being the CYPHER Sirolimus-eluting Coronary Stent. This
breakthrough product for coronary artery disease has been
implanted in more than 600,000 patients around the world. In
February, Cordis announced it had entered into a strategic
alliance with Guidant Corporation for the co-promotion of
drug-eluting stents and the advancement of new technology in
coronary stent delivery systems. In March, Cordis announced
that it had received approval from the Japanese Ministry of
Health, Labor and Welfare to market its CYPHER Sirolimus-
eluting Coronary Stent in Japan; this is the first drug-
eluting stent to be approved in Japan.

Also contributing to the performance of the segment were
strong results from DePuy's spinal products. During the
quarter, DePuy submitted a Premarket Approval Application
(PMA) for the CHARITE Artificial Disc to the U.S. Food and
Drug Administration (FDA).

Vistakon's contact lens business was also a strong
contributor to segment performance benefiting from the
introduction of the new ACUVUE ADVANCE Brand Contact Lenses
with HYDRACLEAR in the United States and the launch of 1-DAY
ACUVUE COLOURS in Japan.

Worldwide Pharmaceutical sales of $5.4 billion for the first
quarter represented an increase over the prior year of
15.2%, with operational growth of 10.9% and a positive
impact from currency of 4.3%. Domestic sales increased
11.6%, while international sales increased 23.5% (9.1% from
operations and 14.4% from currency).

Sales growth reflects the strong performances of RISPERDAL,
an antipsychotic medication; LEVAQUIN, an anti-infective;
TOPAMAX, an antiepileptic; REMICADE, a treatment for
rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn's disease; ORTHO EVRA, the
first birth control patch; and NATRECOR, the first novel
agent for congestive heart failure.

During the quarter, the Company submitted applications to
the FDA for REMICADE for use in the treatment of ankylosing
spondylitis and for LEVAQUIN 750 mg short course therapy for
use in the treatment of chronic bronchitis.

In addition, the European Medicines Evaluation Agency's
Committee on Proprietary Medicinal Products issued a
positive opinion to recommend approval under exceptional
circumstances for VELCADE (bortezomib) for the treatment of
patients with multiple myeloma. Under the terms of the co-
development and commercialization agreement with Millenium
Pharmaceuticals, Inc., the Company will commercialize
VELCADE outside of the U.S., including Europe.

In March, the Company also announced that it had signed a
definitive agreement to acquire Wyeth's St. Louis
biopharmaceutical manufacturing facility. The transaction
closed on April 9, 2004.

Worldwide Consumer segment sales of $2.0 billion for the
first quarter represented an increase over the prior year of
14.3%, with operational growth of 8.7% and a positive impact
from currency of 5.6%. Domestic sales increased 8.1%, while
international sales increased 22.1% (9.6% from operations
and 12.5% from currency).

Strong growth in Consumer sales were achieved by McNeil
Nutritional's SPLENDA sweetener; the skin care lines of
NEUTROGENA, RoC, AVEENO and CLEAN & CLEAR, and wound care
products.

In February, the Company announced that it had signed a
definitive agreement to acquire Merck's 50 percent equity
stake in the European non- prescription pharmaceuticals
joint venture known as Johnson & Johnson MSD Europe. The
acquisition was completed early in the second quarter and
the joint venture companies have been renamed McNeil Europe.
In addition, the Company also announced the strategic
realignment of its sucralose agreements with Tate & Lyle PLC
to better position sucralose and the SPLENDA Brand for
future global growth opportunities. Under the new
agreements, McNeil Nutritionals retains ownership of the
SPLENDA Brand and has commercial responsibility for the
worldwide SPLENDA Brand retail and food service business.
Tate & Lyle is the manufacturer and is responsible for
worldwide food and beverage ingredient sales of sucralose.
Johnson & Johnson, with approximately 109,500 employees, is
the world's most comprehensive and broadly based
manufacturer of health care products, as well as a provider
of related services, for the consumer, pharmaceutical, and
medical devices and diagnostics markets. Johnson & Johnson
has more than 200 operating companies in 57 countries,
selling products throughout the world.

(This press release contains "forward-looking statements" as
defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995. These statements are based on current expectations of
future events. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or
unknown risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results
could vary materially from the Company's expectations and
projections. Risks and uncertainties include general
industry conditions and competition; economic conditions,
such as interest rate and currency exchange rate
fluctuations; technological advances and patents attained by
competitors; challenges inherent in new product development,
including obtaining regulatory approvals; domestic and
foreign health care reforms and governmental laws and
regulations; and trends toward health care cost containment.
A further list and description of these risks, uncertainties
and other factors can be found in Exhibit 99(b) of the
Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year
ended December 28, 2003. Copies of this Form 10-K are
available online at www.sec.gov or on request from the
Company. The Company assumes no obligation to update any
forward-looking statements as a result of new information or
future events or developments.)

For more information on Johnson & Johnson, please visit the
Company's website at http://www.jnj.com.


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