Johnson & Johnson
US healthcare and pharmaceutical multinational headquartered in New Jersey.
Johnson & Johnson's single-dose COVID-19 vaccine, finished in Gqeberha by Aspen Pharmacare from 2021, drew no African orders by 2022; in August 2026 CEPI funded an African-made Bundibugyo Ebola vaccine.
Last refreshed: 4 October 2026
Timeline for Johnson & Johnson
Mentioned in: CEPI awards Minapharm US$16.5m for Ebola
Pandemics and BiosecurityBackground
Johnson & Johnson is a US healthcare and pharmaceutical multinational, founded in 1886 and headquartered in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Joaquin Duato has been chief executive since January 2022. Its consumer health Arm became a separate listed company, Kenvue, in May 2023.
Its single-dose COVID-19 vaccine was trialled with the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases from September 2020. From 2021 Aspen Pharmacare filled and finished the vaccine at Gqeberha in South Africa. In March 2022 Aspen licensed it for African sale as Aspenovax.
Aspen reported in 2022 that donated doses had already met African demand and that the locally finished J&J product drew no orders. On 27 August 2026 CEPI awarded up to $16.5m to Egypt's Minapharm for a Bundibugyo Ebola vaccine to be finished in Cairo.
Aspen's licensed J&J shot drew no orders
From 2021 Aspen Pharmacare filled and finished Johnson & Johnson's single-dose COVID-19 vaccine at Gqeberha in South Africa. In March 2022 Aspen licensed the shot for African sale as Aspenovax. Aspen reported in 2022 that donated doses had covered African demand, and that Aspenovax had received no orders.
On 27 August 2026 CEPI awarded up to $16.5m to Egypt's Minapharm to take a Bundibugyo Ebola vaccine, to be finished in Cairo, into a first safety trial in Africa.