• Ad Age, Wednesday, June 28, 2006 2:30 PM

In the wake of its $16.6 billion agreement to purchase Pfizer's over-the-counter division, Johnson & Johnson strengthens its position as the world's largest consumer health-care company. Buying Pfizer products like Listerine, Visine, Neosporin, and Zantac gives J&J a $13 billion portfolio that amounts to roughly a quarter of the $52 billion consumer health-care market. While there is some overlap of products between the two companies, J&J “said it has no plans at this time to discontinue any Pfizer products and has not made any decision regarding the various ad agencies that handle the brand accounts,” according to Ad Age. The deal lets J&J move into such previously unrepresented categories as anti-smoking products, with the Nicorette line.

Read the whole story at Ad Age »