Johnson & Johnson Establishes Wellness & Prevention Platform with Acquisition of HealthMedia, Inc.
October 27 2008 - 3:10PM
PR Newswire (US)
NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J., Oct. 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- As an
initial step in the creation of a wellness and prevention business
platform, Johnson & Johnson announced today it has acquired
HealthMedia, Inc., a privately held company located in Ann Arbor,
Michigan, that creates web-based behavior change interventions.
Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. HealthMedia combines
advanced technology and behavioral science to effectively emulate a
health coach via the web. HealthMedia's suite of interventions
provides automated web-based coaching for wellness, disease
management, behavioral health, and medication adherence with proven
outcomes, increased compliance, reduced medical utilization, and
increased productivity. HealthMedia's products have demonstrated
improved cost savings for health plans and employers. William C.
Weldon, Johnson & Johnson Chairman and Chief Executive Officer,
said: "It is exciting for Johnson & Johnson to establish a new
business platform to offer customers meaningful products and
services focused on wellness and prevention that reduce healthcare
costs, and at the same time, deliver new growth for our Company.
Global healthcare systems, including governments, employers, payers
and individuals, are seeking new solutions to more effectively
manage spiralling costs of care. Our establishment of a Wellness
& Prevention platform recognizes our conviction that a
comprehensive solution must begin long before the onset of illness,
and that investing in wellness and prevention now can avoid more
costly health care expenses later. "This acquisition represents a
critical first step in Johnson & Johnson's commitment to
providing products and services that enable consumers to adopt
lifestyles and behaviors that reduce the risk of preventable
chronic diseases and sustain good health," Mr. Weldon continued.
Nicholas J. Valeriani, Vice President, Johnson & Johnson Office
of Strategy & Growth, who is responsible for the Wellness &
Prevention platform, said: "Johnson & Johnson has incorporated
HealthMedia programs into our health and wellness initiatives for a
number of years, generating documented improvements that we are
confident other employers and healthcare providers will find
beneficial. In the U.S., where the programs have been implemented,
they have contributed to our employees' ability to lose weight and
increase physical activity, reduce stress, quit smoking, manage
diabetes, and improve medication compliance." "At Johnson &
Johnson, a focus on health and wellness, including HealthMedia's
programs, has helped to reduce our per capita health-plan costs and
improve overall employee health and productivity. We are confident
that a combination of proven products and services will enable our
customers to better manage chronic disease, improve overall health,
and create more productive workforces. The acquisition of
HealthMedia is an important first step in this effort."
HealthMedia, Inc. was founded in 1998 and has approximately 140
employees. For more information, visit http://www.healthmedia.com/.
About Johnson & Johnson Caring for the world, one person at a
time... inspires and unites the people of Johnson & Johnson. We
embrace research and science - bringing innovative ideas, products
and services to advance the health and well-being of people. Our
119,400 employees at more than 250 Johnson & Johnson companies
work with partners in health care to touch the lives of over a
billion people every day, throughout the world. DATASOURCE: Johnson
& Johnson CONTACT: Press: Jeffrey J. Leebaw, +1-732-524-3350,
+1-732-642-6608 (M), Investors: Stan Panasewicz, +1-732-524-2524,
Lesley Fishman, +1-732-524-3922 Web Site:
http://www.healthmedia.com/ http://www.jnj.com/
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