BEERSE, Belgium, September 30, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Marketing rights for CAEYLX(R) (pegylated liposomal doxorubicin hydrochloride) outside the United States will be transitioned from an affiliate of Merck Co., Inc. (Merck) to Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies, on December 31, 2010. Merck is known as MSD outside the United States and Canada. CAELYX is a treatment for certain types of cancer.

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Currently, MSD, through an affiliate, holds rights to market the medication under a distribution agreement with ALZA Corporation, an affiliate of Janssen, which was executed in 1996. This distribution agreement with the affiliate of MSD expires on December 31, 2010, and marketing rights will be transferred back to ALZA Corporation. Janssen affiliates will assume marketing and distribution responsibilities for the product beginning January 1, 2011.

Since the agreement was put in place, the affiliate of MSD has held rights to CAELYX in Europe and associated countries, Canada, Latin America, Middle East and Asia-Pacific (excluding Japan). Janssen affiliates market the product in the United States, Japan and Israel, under the trade name DOXIL(R). Combined, CAELYX and DOXIL are marketed in more than 80 countries.

CAELYX will become our first global product for the treatment of solid tumors. It represents an important addition to our growing portfolio and growing global presence that reflects our ongoing commitment to delivering important therapeutic options for patients with cancer, said Jim Baker, Worldwide Vice President, Oncology and Supportive Care for Janssen. Both Janssen and MSD are committed to working together on a smooth transition and ensuring an uninterrupted drug supply for patients.

No product name changes are planned in connection with the transition of marketing rights.

CAELYX is a long-circulating pegylated liposomal formulation of doxorubicin hydrochloride, a widely used cytotoxic agent. Therefore, CAELYX should not be used interchangeably with other formulations of doxorubicin hydrochloride.

CAELYX is approved in the European Union (EU) as monotherapy for metastatic breast cancer in patients where there is an increased cardiac risk. CAELYX is also approved in the EU for the treatment of advanced ovarian cancer in women who have failed first-line, platinum-based therapy and for the treatment of AIDS-related Kaposi's sarcoma in patients with low CD4 counts (200 CD4 lymphocytes/mm3) and extensive mucocutaneous or visceral disease and in combination with VELCADE(R) (bortezomib) for the treatment of progressive multiple myeloma in patients who have received at least one prior therapy and who have already undergone or are unsuitable for bone marrow transplant. Full prescribing information for CAELYX can be found at http://www.ema.europa.eu/humandocs/Humans/EPAR/caelyx/caelyx.htm

About Janssen

Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson Johnson are dedicated to addressing and solving the most important unmet medical needs of our time, including oncology (e.g. multiple myeloma and prostate cancer), immunology (e.g. psoriasis),neuroscience (e.g. schizophrenia, dementia and pain), infectious disease (e.g. HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis C and tuberculosis), and cardiovascular and metabolic diseases (e.g. diabetes).

Driven by our commitment to patients, we develop sustainable, integrated healthcare solutions by working side-by-side with healthcare stakeholders, based on partnerships of trust and transparency.

More information can be found at http://www.janssen-emea.com

(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 Janssen, ALZA Corporation and/or Johnson Johnson'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 Johnson Johnson's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 3, 2010. Copies of this Form 10-K, as well as subsequent filings, are available online at http://www.sec.gov, http://www.jnj.com or on request from Johnson Johnson. Neither Janssen, ALZA Corporation or Johnson Johnson undertake to update any forward-looking statements as a result of new information or future events or developments.)

Media contact: Brigitte Byl Janssen, Public Affairs and Communications Europe, Middle East Africa +32(0)14-60-71-72 Investor Relations contacts: Stan Panasewicz, Johnson Johnson Headquarters +1(0)732-524-2524

SOURCE: Janssen

CONTACT: Media contact: Brigitte Byl, Janssen, Public Affairs andCommunications, Europe, Middle East Africa, +32(0)14-60-71-72; InvestorRelations contacts: Stan Panasewicz, Johnson Johnson Headquarters,+1(0)732-524-2524.