J&J Gets Into Reprocessing Biz with SterilMed Purchase

Ethicon Endo-Surgery Inc., a unit of New Brunswick, N.J.-based Johnson & Johnson, is buying privately held SterilMed Inc.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

SterilMed provides products and services including medical device reprocessing, equipment repair, and pre-owned equipment sales that, according to the company, help healthcare providers lower medical device and equipment costs, while reducing the amount of environmental waste they generate.

The acquisition broadens Ethicon’s portfolio and enables expansion in a rapidly growing market segment, while also bringing added scale, scope and experience to SterilMed, the companies said.

“The time is right for Ethicon Endo-Surgery and SterilMed to come together, given the rapid changes occurring in the U.S. healthcare system,” said Karen Licitra, Ethicon Endo-Surgery chairman. “Together, we can continue our focus on developing innovative surgical solutions, while providing healthcare facilities a wider range of flexible product options to save money, reduce medical waste, and maintain quality care for patients.”

SterilMed will be managed as part of the Ethicon Endo-Surgery franchise, but will continue to operate as a standalone company and retain the name SterilMed.

Brian Sullivan, SterilMed’s chairman and CEO, said: “Becoming part of the Ethicon Endo-Surgery franchise, one of the largest and most respected medical device companies in the world, will have a positive impact on our business, while also expanding our product portfolio.”