Exhibit 99.15

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Johnson & Johnson Reports 2006 Second Quarter EPS Increase
of 10.5% on Sales Increase of 4.7%

New Brunswick, NJ (July 18, 2006) - Johnson & Johnson today
announced record sales for the second quarter of $13.4
billion, an increase of 4.7% as compared to the second
quarter of 2005. Operational growth was 4.8% with a negative
currency impact of .1%. Domestic sales were up 4.4%, while
international sales increased 5.1%, reflecting operational
growth of 5.2% and a negative currency impact of .1%.

Net earnings and diluted earnings per share for the second
quarter of 2006 were $2.8 billion and $.95, respectively.
The second quarter included an after-tax in-process research
and development charge of $87 million associated with the
acquisition of Vascular Control Systems Inc. Prior-year
second quarter net earnings included after-tax in-process
research and development charges of $353 million associated
with the acquisitions of Peninsula Pharmaceuticals, Inc.,
CLOSURE Medical Corporation and TransForm Pharmaceuticals,
Inc. Net earnings for the second quarter of 2005 also
included a gain of $225 million for a tax adjustment
associated with a technical correction made to the American
Jobs Creation Act. Excluding the impact of these items, net
earnings for the current quarter were $2.9 billion and
diluted earnings per share were $.98, representing increases
of 7.0% and 8.9%, respectively, as compared to the same
period in 2005.*

"Our second quarter results demonstrated improving
performance, which is anticipated to continue throughout the
remainder of the year," said William C. Weldon, Chairman and
Chief Executive Officer. "We have made a number of business-
building investments and have received several significant
regulatory product approvals. These investments and
approvals will help us both sustain important leadership
positions as well as enter new high growth markets
characterized by unmet medical need."

Worldwide Medical Devices and Diagnostics sales of $5.2
billion for the second quarter represented a 6.2% increase
over the prior year with operational growth of 6.7% and a
negative impact from currency of .5%. Domestic sales
increased 8.9%, while international sales increased 3.5%
(4.6% from operations less 1.1% from negative currency).

Primary contributors to the operational growth included
Ethicon Endo-Surgery's minimally invasive products; Cordis'
CYPHERr Sirolimus-eluting Coronary Stent; Vistakon's
disposable contact lenses and LifeScan's blood glucose
monitoring and insulin delivery products.

During the quarter, the Company announced the completion of
the acquisition of Vascular Control Systems, Inc., a
privately held company focused on developing medical devices
to treat fibroids and to control bleeding in obstetric and
gynecologic applications. In July, the Company acquired
Colbar LifeScience Ltd., a privately held biotechnology
company specializing in reconstructive medicine and tissue
engineering.

In addition, the Company received CE Mark approval in Europe
for CYPHER SELECTTM PLUS, the first third-generation drug-
eluting stent to receive such an approval.

Worldwide Pharmaceutical sales of $5.8 billion for the
second quarter represented an increase over the prior year
of 3.2% on both a reported and an operational basis.
Domestic sales increased 2.4%, while international sales
increased 4.7%.

Sales growth reflects the strong performance of RISPERDALr
(risperidone), an antipsychotic medication; REMICADEr
(infliximab), a biologic approved for the treatment of a
number of immune mediated inflammatory diseases; TOPAMAXr
(topiramate), an antiepileptic and a treatment for the
prevention of migraine headaches, and CONCERTAr
(methylphenidate HCl), a treatment for attention deficit
hyperactivity disorder.

During the quarter, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) granted accelerated approval of the anti-HIV
medication PREZISTATM (darunavir). The FDA also approved
IONSYSTM (fentanyl iontophoretic transdermal system), the
first needle-free, patient-activated analgesic system; and
REMICADEr (infliximab) for reducing signs and symptoms in
pediatric patients with moderately to severely active
Crohn's disease.

JURNISTATM prolonged-release tablets (Hydromorphone HCl), a
new prescription treatment for severe pain, received
approval through the European Mutual Recognition Procedure.
In addition, the Company submitted a Marketing Authorization
Application to the European Medicines Agency for
Paliperidone prolonged-release tablets, a once daily, oral
medication for the treatment of schizophrenia.

Also during the quarter, the Company completed an agreement
with Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc. to develop and
commercialize Vertex's investigational hepatitis C virus
(HCV) protease inhibitor, VX-950. The Company will have
exclusive rights in Europe, South America, the Middle East,
Africa and Australia. In June, the Company announced it had
entered into an agreement with Metabolex, Inc., for an
exclusive license for worldwide development and
commercialization of metaglidasen and MBX-2044, two
compounds in clinical development for the treatment of Type
2 diabetes.

Worldwide Consumer segment sales of $2.4 billion for the
second quarter represented a 5.3% increase over the prior
year with operational growth of 4.5% and a positive impact
from currency of .8%. Domestic sales increased 1.0%, while
international sales increased 9.2% (7.7% from operations and
1.5% from currency).

Sales growth reflects strong performance by the skin care
lines of AVEENOr and JOHNSON'S adult skin products. Baby &
Child Care products and McNeil Nutritional's SPLENDAr
sweetener also contributed to the results in the Consumer
segment.

The acquisition of Groupe Vendome, a privately held French
marketer of adult and baby skin care products, was completed
during the quarter.

In addition, the Company announced that it had entered into
a definitive agreement to acquire Pfizer Consumer Healthcare
for $16.6 billion in cash. The transaction is projected to
close by the end of 2006 and is subject to customary
clearances, including the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust
Improvements Act and European Union merger control
regulation.

Johnson & Johnson 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.
The more than 230 Johnson & Johnson operating companies
employ approximately 116,200 men and women in 57 countries
and sell products throughout the world.

* Net earnings and diluted earnings per share excluding in-
process research and development charges and a revised tax
impact for the American Jobs Creation Act are non-GAAP
financial measures and should not be considered replacements
for GAAP results. For a reconciliation of these non-GAAP
financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP
financial measures, see the accompanying tables to this
release.

NOTE TO INVESTORS:

Johnson & Johnson will conduct a meeting with financial
analysts to discuss this news release today at 8:30 a.m.,
Eastern Daylight Savings Time. A simultaneous webcast of the
meeting for interested investors and others may be accessed
by clicking on the webcast icon from the jnj.com Homepage or
by clicking on Calendar of Events in the Investor Relations
section of the Web site. A replay will be available
approximately two hours after the live webcast by clicking
on "Webcasts/Presentations" in the Investor Relations
section.

(This press release contains "forward-looking statements" as
defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995. 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 of the
Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year
ended January 1, 2006. Copies of this Form 10-K, as well as
subsequent filings, are available online at 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.)