Johnson & Johnson CEO: America’s innovation advantage starts with health

Over the past century, American innovation has transformed healthcare, turning once-unimaginable ideas into  lifesaving realities for patients around the world.

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As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, that legacy is not slowing down.

After decades working at the intersection of science, manufacturing, and patient care, I see every day that  America’s capacity for innovation is not fading. It is gaining momentum.

What sets the United States apart is not invention alone. It is our ability to translate discovery into real-world  impact. Today the United States leads the world in biopharmaceutical innovation, with American companies  driving 55% of global R&D and producing more new medicines than any other country. That leadership translates  directly to patients, with roughly 70% of new medicines launching first in the U.S., giving Americans access to  breakthrough treatments months, often years, ahead of other countries.

We are entering an era where breakthroughs move faster from lab to patient. Diseases are detected earlier.  Treatments are tailored more precisely. High-quality care is reaching more people. Progress is no longer defined  only by what we discover, but by how early and effectively we put those discoveries to work.

And that progress is already changing lives.

In cardiovascular care, American innovation is giving critically ill patients meaningful additional time – time to  recover, to return home, to lead fuller lives. In cancer, innovation has fundamentally changed the outlook.  Diseases once considered fatal are increasingly manageable, and in some cases potentially curable, as science  turns the body’s own biology into a powerful tool against disease.

Artificial intelligence is accelerating this progress, and the U.S. leads here, too.

It is transforming how our scientists discover medicines, design clinical trials, and match therapies to the patients  most likely to benefit. Research timelines that once spanned decades are being compressed into years, while  health systems are using scarce expertise more effectively.

AI will not replace the human side of healthcare. Instead, it will amplify human judgment, automating routine  tasks so clinicians can spend more time listening to patients and delivering the most informed care.

Innovation also extends into the operating room, where advanced technologies are enhancing surgeons’ skills,  generating real-time insights to support better decisions and improved outcomes.

Yet innovation alone will not improve and extend lives.

Breakthroughs matter only if they reach the people who need care. Ensuring access and affordability is not  separate from innovation, it is central to its purpose. We must meet today’s patient needs while continuing to  invest in the advances that will define the next generation of care.

This balance is not easy. Many of the most transformative therapies available today were funded years before they  reached a single patient. At the same time, healthcare systems face real cost pressures, and patients need  solutions that are both innovative and accessible. Meeting both challenges requires partnership, scale, and a  long-term view.

Here, again, America’s strength stands out.

The United States has a unique ability to bring together the institutions, manufacturing strength, and innovation  ecosystems needed to deliver breakthroughs at scale, supported by policies that value innovation, investment,  and patients. That foundation is why healthcare companies are deepening their commitment to the U.S.

Across the industry, hundreds of billions of dollars are being invested in American research and manufacturing.  This includes Johnson & Johnson’s commitment of more than $55 billion over the next four years to expand U.S.  R&D, manufacturing, and technology, building state-of-the-art facilities and ensuring that the vast majority of our  most advanced medicines are made in America.

Healthcare is a uniquely powerful investment. It is both human and economic. Studies consistently show that  every dollar invested can generate multiples in economic return. Health is not simply a cost to manage; it is a  down payment on longer lives, stronger communities, and a more resilient economy.

Looking ahead to America 250 years from now, leadership will be judged by whether we can turn innovation into  lasting value for people and for society. To me, that means investing in the one innovation that serves all of us: the  health of humanity.

The opinions expressed in Fortune.com commentary pieces are solely the views of their authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and beliefs of Fortune.

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