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J&J Strikes Again in Spine

J&J's aggressive moves in orthopedics has industry executives nervous, most recently about its purchases of artificial disk maker Waldemar Link and biomaterials expert Orquest. The Link valuation (J&J is paying $325 million upfront, plus earn-outs) isn't quite as high as some earlier orthopedics deals, but it is still comparatively substantial. With Link and Orquest under its roof, J&J is poised to assume market leadership in the traditional orthopedics markets and also in spine.

Following Sulzer AG 's dramatic acquisition of spinal cage pioneer Spine-Tech Inc. (now Centerpulse Spine-Tech , a division of Centerpulse AG ), in late 1997, officials at then-independent DePuy Inc. joined the orthopedics industry's general eye-rolling about the $595 million price tag. And when, less than half a year later, DePuy bought AcroMed Corp., company officials pointed to the relatively modest $320 million price (for a company with a broad play in spine, not a single technology) as evidence of their ability to get a good deal without having to pay stratospheric prices.

The acquisition by DePuy AcroMed Inc. (now part of Johnson & Johnson [See Deal]), of privately-held Waldemar Link...

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