J&J Q2 Sales Rise 5.6%; Unveils AI Imaging and Robotic Surgery Platforms

Johnson & Johnson reported second-quarter 2026 worldwide sales of $25.3 billion（約4兆円）, representing an operational increase of 5.6% compared with the prior year. Sales excluding STELARA grew at a double-digit rate, while Innovative Medicine delivered growth of 6.8%, supported by product launches and broad demand across its medicine portfolio. Adjusted net earnings increased 5.7% to $7.1 billion（約1.1兆円）, and adjusted diluted earnings per share rose 4.7% to $2.90.

During the quarter, Johnson & Johnson placed considerable emphasis on technology, with leadership highlighting three strategic pillars: AI-enabled cardiovascular tools, surgical robotics, and connected treatment platforms designed to improve clinical workflows and product performance. The company introduced CARTOSOUND SONATA, an AI-powered imaging and mapping system for electrophysiology procedures that gives physicians more detailed information during cardiac procedures and supports treatment planning. Management expects continued adoption in the United States through the second half of 2026 as the rollout proceeds, viewing it as a response to competitive pressure in the pulsed field ablation space.

Johnson & Johnson also received FDA authorization for the THERMOCOOL SMARTTOUCH SF platform, which combines pulsed field energy with radiofrequency energy in a single system. Physicians can select the energy source best suited to each procedure's needs, potentially reducing the reliance on separate technologies during treatment. Executives identified this launch as a key driver of improved MedTech performance expected during the remainder of the year. The company's most ambitious robotics announcement came with OTTAVA, a table-integrated robotic surgical system that includes automation and robotic instruments designed for operating-room workflows and integrates with Johnson & Johnson's open digital ecosystem to provide data-driven insights for surgical teams. CEO Joaquin Duato described OTTAVA as "one of the most significant MedTech innovations we will bring to market this decade."

To broaden its surgical robotics footprint, Johnson & Johnson announced plans to launch MONARCH for Urology, subject to regulatory approval, as an entry point into robotic procedures that complements the OTTAVA platform. MedTech leadership stated the company intends to become a major participant in surgical robotics by drawing on its experience in surgery, with expectations that both OTTAVA and MONARCH could contribute meaningfully to MedTech growth by the end of the decade. In oncology, the company discussed a device-enabled approach to bladder cancer treatment: an investigational erdafitinib device designed to deliver medicine over three months, compared with the three-week delivery of INLEXZO. Management indicated the platform could support additional medicines over time, combining therapeutic development with device engineering to address varying patient needs within bladder cancer care.

Johnson & Johnson's second-quarter results reflect solid operational momentum—sales growth of 5.6% with Innovative Medicine delivering 6.8% growth—but the company's strategic emphasis on connected MedTech platforms signals a deeper shift in how it plans to compete. The introduction of CARTOSOUND SONATA, THERMOCOOL SMARTTOUCH SF, OTTAVA, and the planned MONARCH for Urology are not isolated product launches; they represent a deliberate strategy to create an integrated digital ecosystem that links hardware, software, and clinical data. CEO Duato's characterization of OTTAVA as "one of the most significant MedTech innovations we will bring to market this decade" underscores management's confidence that surgical robotics—combined with data-driven insights from an open digital platform—can drive substantial revenue growth.

The competitive context matters: CARTOSOUND SONATA is explicitly positioned to respond to competitive pressure in pulsed field ablation, while THERMOCOOL SMARTTOUCH SF's dual-energy capability allows physicians to choose the right tool for each procedure, potentially reducing reliance on separate systems. The device-enabled oncology approach—exemplified by the three-month erdafitinib device versus the three-week INLEXZO—extends this logic beyond surgery into medical delivery, suggesting J&J believes connected, data-informed platforms can address fragmentation across the healthcare system and create durable competitive advantages.

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