Johnson & Johnson MedTech Announces Major Restructuring of Surgical Business and Highlights Innovation Pipeline

Recently, according to reports from multiple media outlets, Johnson & Johnson Medical Technology will undergo an organizational restructuring of its Surgical Division.

Since January 1, 2025, the Surgical Division will be handled byMinimally Invasive and Energy Surgery Division, Wound Closure Division, Biosurgery Division, Full-line Surgery Expansion Division (i.e., Broad Market Division), Strategic Marketing Department, Robotics and Digital SolutionsComposed of six major departments.

The heads of three departments have been confirmed.

Minimally Invasive and Energy Surgery DivisionChen Songxin, the current Senior Director of the Biosurgery Division, will serve as the Senior Director.

Surgical Full Product Expansion Division, as a newly established department aimed at tapping the potential of the broader market, will be led by Gao Fei, the current National Sales Director of the Biosurgery Division, who will serve as the Senior Director.

Surgical Strategic Marketing DepartmentJingfeng Chen, the current Market Access Director of the Minimally Invasive and Energy Surgery Division, will take charge. He will leverage the resources and advantages of One Surgery to lead the team in formulating clear market strategies, driving new product development and digital surgery construction, and providing momentum for the continuous growth of the surgical business.

Wound Closure Division, Biosurgery Division, and Robotics & Digital Solutions DepartmentThe position of the person in chargeThe announcement is yet to be made, and the company will announce the relevant appointments in due course.

Chen Xiaoming, Senior Director of the MONARCH Surgical Division at Johnson & Johnson Medical (China) Ltd., has decided to leave the company to pursue new career opportunities. He will conclude his work at Johnson & Johnson on December 31, 2024, and will collaborate closely with the team during this period to ensure a smooth transition.

In recent years, under the influence of centralized procurement of medical consumables, the surgical market in China has undergone significant changes. For Johnson & Johnson, which has always had a strong advantage in this field, new challenges are self-evident. The company has also undergone a series of important personnel changes.

At the end of March this year, Johnson & Johnson announced that Tulio Oliveira would serve as the General Manager of its China Surgical Division. Prior to joining the China team, Tulio served as the Global Head of Johnson & Johnson Medical Technologies' Advanced Stapling business.

This year, there have been changes in the positions of President of Johnson & Johnson Medical Technology China and Head of Human Resources for Johnson & Johnson Medical Technology China & OneHR China. Song Weiqun, the former Chairman of China Region and President of Johnson & Johnson Medical Technology China, has stepped down. Edward Zhou (Zhou Mintao) has taken over as President of Johnson & Johnson Medical Technology China and also become a member of the leadership team for the Asia-Pacific region of Johnson & Johnson Medical Technology. Chen Yanli (Ronnie Chen) has been appointed as the Head of Human Resources for Johnson & Johnson Medical Technology China & OneHR China.

The new leadership team will lead Johnson & Johnson China to continue深耕ing the Chinese market.

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Innovation-Driven under Change

Corresponding to the frequent personnel changes is the continuous approval of Johnson & Johnson's innovative products. Just this month, Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices announced two significant advancements.

On November 12, Johnson & Johnson Medical Technologies announced,FDA Approves IDE for OTTAVA™ Robotic Surgical System, Allowing Clinical Trials to Proceed in the U.S.The company will prepare clinical trial sites to accept the OTTAVA system, recruit patients, and begin surgical cases.

The competition in the surgical robotics field is undoubtedly one of the most challenging innovation battles in the medical device industry. Intuitive Surgical's Da Vinci robot has already paved a highly rewarding path of innovation.

Currently, Johnson & Johnson Medical Technologies is building its global surgical technology portfolio to advance OTTAVA and help surgical teams and hospitals deliver the benefits of robotic surgery to more patients. Johnson & Johnson stated that the system aims to address unmet needs in current robotic surgery while driving choice and competition in an underpenetrated and high-growth market.

It is reported that the OTTAVA system integrates four low-profile robotic arms into the operating table. This unified architecture allows for a compact footprint, designed to support robotic, laparoscopic, hybrid, and open surgeries, providing clinical teams with more workspace. The OTTAVA system will exclusively use Ethicon instruments, which are designed to enhance performance and precision while offering a more consistent experience between traditional laparoscopic and robotic surgeries.

This month, Johnson & Johnson Medical Technology Company also announced,FDA Approves VARIPULSE™ Platform for the Treatment of Refractory Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation (AFib)。Currently, the disruptive innovative impact of PFA on the electrophysiology market has attracted a group of giants.Note: The approval of the VARIPULSE™ platform also meansFollowing the footsteps of Biotronik and Medtronic, Johnson & Johnson, a formidable competitor in the electrophysiology field, has officially launched its PFA offensive in the U.S. market.

In addition to the VARIPULSE™ platform,Johnson & Johnson Plans to Develop a Comprehensive PFA Solution, Including the Dual-Energy THERMOCOOL SMARTOUCH™ SF Catheter Currently Under Investigation(Researching the provision of radiofrequency and pulsed energy)And omnpulse™ Catheter(Large tip, 12mm focus catheter, with contact force sensing and TRUEref™ reference electrode).

Johnson & Johnson Chairman and CEO Joaquin Duato previously stated that Johnson & Johnson will continue to enhance its pipeline and capabilities, shift its portfolio towards faster-growing markets, and continue to deliver on its pipeline.By 2027, one-third of Johnson & Johnson Medical Technologies' sales are expected to come from new products.

This year, Johnson & Johnson has continued to advance its focus on acquisitions in cutting-edge fields, innovative technologies, and high-growth markets. This includes the significant acquisition of Shockwave for a total transaction value of approximately $13.1 billion, which will inject new energy into Johnson & Johnson's presence in the vascular intervention field. Additionally, Johnson & Johnson announced the acquisition of V-Wave, a company with heart failure treatment technology, further extending its strong focus on the cardiovascular sector.