Exhibit 99.15

                        Johnson & Johnson
   2003 First Quarter EPS Rose 16.9% on Sales Increase of 12.3%

      New Brunswick, NJ (April 15, 2003) -- Johnson & Johnson
today announced sales for the first quarter of $9.8 billion, an
increase of 12.3% over the prior year.  Excluding the impact of
currency, worldwide sales increased 8.1%.  Domestic sales were up
8.9%, while international sales increased 6.9% on an operational
basis.

      Net earnings and diluted earnings per share for the quarter
were $2.1 billion and $.69, increases of 12.9% and 16.9%,
respectively, as compared to the same period in 2002.  These
amounts include after-tax special charges of $15 million taken in
the first quarter of 2003 for in-process research and development
costs associated with the acquisitions of 3-Dimensional
Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Orquest, Inc.

      "I am pleased with our ability to continue to deliver solid
results in sales and earnings despite the challenges of intense
competition," said William C. Weldon, Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer.  "The breadth of our businesses in human
health care serves us well, an excellent example this quarter
being the strong performance of our worldwide consumer
businesses." Mr. Weldon also stated, "The key to our long-term
consistent performance is our ongoing investment in science and
technology."

      Worldwide Pharmaceutical sales of $4.7 billion for the
first quarter of 2003 represented an increase of 11.6% versus the
prior year on a reported basis and 7.8% operationally.  Domestic
sales increased 10.3%, while international sales increased 14.7%.
Sales growth reflects the strong performance of REMICADE, a
treatment for rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn's disease;
DURAGESIC, a transdermal patch for chronic pain; TOPAMAX, an
antiepileptic; ACIPHEX/PARIET, a proton pump inhibitor for
gastrointestinal disorders, and RISPERDAL, an antipsychotic
medication. PROCRIT/EPREX, a product for the treatment of anemia,
was impacted by increased competition and had minimal reported
growth.

      During the first quarter, the Company announced a
definitive agreement to acquire Scios, Inc., a biopharmaceutical
company with a marketed product for cardiovascular disease and
research projects focused on auto-immune diseases.  Scios'
product NATRECOR is a novel agent approved for congestive heart
failure and has several significant advantages over existing
therapies.  Their research and development program includes
several potential new treatments for pain and inflammatory
diseases, including an advanced p-38 kinase inhibitor program.
The transaction is valued at approximately $2.4 billion, net of
cash, and is expected to close later this month.

      Also in the quarter, the Company announced and completed
the acquisition of 3-Dimensional Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a company
with a technology platform focused on the discovery and
development of potential new drugs in early stage development for
the treatment of cardiovascular disorders, oncology and
inflammation. The transaction is valued at $88 million, net of
cash.

      The Company also received U.S. Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) approval for REMICADE (infliximab) for the additional
indication of long-term treatment of fistulizing Crohn's disease,
a chronic inflammatory bowel disorder that commonly affects the
lower part of the small and large intestine, as well as FLEXERIL
(cyclobenzaprine HCl) 5 mg tablets for the treatment of muscle
spasm associated with painful musculoskeletal conditions.  In
April, the Company received FDA approval for RISPERDAL M-TAB
(risperidone), a fast dissolving form of the schizophrenia
medication that dissolves in seconds when placed in the mouth.

      Worldwide Medical Devices and Diagnostics achieved sales of
$3.4 billion in the first quarter of 2003, which represented an
increase over the prior year of 13.7% on a reported basis and
8.0% operationally.  Domestic and international sales increased
5.1% and 24.8%, respectively.  DePuy's orthopaedic joint
reconstruction and spinal products, and Ethicon Endo-Surgery's
minimally invasive surgical products achieved very strong sales
growth.  Also contributing to the overall performance of the
segment were solid results from Cordis' circulatory disease
management products and Ethicon's wound care and women's health
products.

      During the quarter, the Company completed the acquisition
of Orquest, Inc., a privately held biotechnology company focused
on developing biologically-based implants for orthopaedics and
spine surgery.  Orquest's principal product, HEALOS Bone Graft
Material, is designed to reduce the time and pain associated with
standard bone graft harvesting and represents a therapeutic
advance for patients requiring bone graft material for spine
fusion or other surgery.

      Worldwide Consumer sales were $1.8 billion in the first
quarter of 2003, an increase of 11.7% over the prior year on a
reported basis and 9.6% operationally.  Domestic sales increased
11.1%, while international sales increased 12.4%.  Consumer sales
experienced strong growth in NEUTROGENA, CLEAN & CLEAR and AVEENO
skin care products and SPLENDA sweetener products, as well as
broad-based growth in the Consumer Pharmaceuticals and Wound Care
franchises.

      Johnson & Johnson, with approximately 110,300 employees, is
the world's most comprehensive and broadly based manufacturer of
health care products, as well as a provider of related services,
for the consumer, pharmaceutical, and medical devices and
diagnostics markets.  Johnson & Johnson has more than 200
operating companies in 54 countries around the world, selling
products in more than 175 countries.

                       NOTE TO INVESTORS

      Johnson & Johnson will conduct a conference call with
financial analysts to discuss this news release today at 8:30
a.m., Eastern Daylight Savings Time.  A simultaneous webcast of
the call for interested investors and others may be accessed by
visiting the Johnson & Johnson website at www.jnj.com.  A replay
will be available two hours after the live webcast by visiting
www.jnj.com and clicking on "Webcast Archives" in the Investor
Relations section.

      (This press release contains "forward-looking statements"
as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995.  This presentation includes certain non-GAAP financial
measures as defined under SEC rules. As required by SEC rules, we
have provided a reconciliation of these measures directly by way
of a footnote in Exhibit 99.20. These statements are based on
current expectations of future events.  If underlying assumptions
prove inaccurate or unknown risks or uncertainties materialize,
actual results could vary materially from the Company's
expectations and projections.  Risks and uncertainties include
general industry conditions and competition; economic conditions,
such as interest rate and currency exchange rate fluctuations;
technological advances and patents attained by competitors;
challenges inherent in new product development, including
obtaining regulatory approvals; domestic and foreign health care
reforms and governmental laws and regulations; and trends toward
health care cost containment.  A further list and description of
these risks, uncertainties and other factors can be found in
Exhibit 99(b) of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
fiscal year ended December 29, 2002.  Copies of this Form 10-K
are available online at www.sec.gov http://www.sec.gov or on
request from the Company. The Company assumes no obligation
to update any forward-looking statements as a result of new
information or future events or developments.)

      For more information on Johnson & Johnson, please visit the
Company's website at http://www.jnj.com.