Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) shares closed Friday's trading session at $239.99, marking a 0.9% increase. The movement followed significant developments on both legal and clinical fronts for the healthcare conglomerate.
Legal Setback for Plaintiffs in Talc Litigation
A New Jersey appellate court disqualified the Beasley Allen law firm from participating in the state's consolidated talc litigation. The ruling, which impacts approximately 3,600 active cases, cited ethical violations involving improper coordination with a former J&J attorney. The company has a parallel motion for disqualification pending in federal court, where over 67,500 related cases are ongoing.
Early Clinical Data for Cardiac Device
Separately, the company presented initial 12-month pilot study results for its investigational OMNYPULSE pulsed-field ablation system, designed to treat paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AFib). According to the data, 90% of the 30 participants met the primary efficacy endpoint at one year, with no procedure-related adverse events reported. Notably, 56.7% of procedures were performed without fluoroscopy guidance.
While the talc litigation remains a significant overhang for investors, J&J is emphasizing growth in its MedTech segment. The new AFib data represents progress in a competitive cardiac device market, though the platform remains investigational and has not yet received regulatory approval.
The stock's gain slightly lagged some pharmaceutical peers during a broadly positive market session. Investors are now monitoring for further legal developments and additional insights from ongoing medical conferences. Company management is scheduled to participate in a TD Cowen healthcare conference discussion on March 3.
