Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V. became part of the Johnson & Johnson Family of Companies in 1961. In 1985, Dr. Paul set up Xi’an Janssen Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., the first Western pharmaceutical company in the People's Republic of China. Dr. Paul’s interest in China would become especially important when he engaged his company to help restore the country’s terracotta warrior army. More than 8,000 terracotta soldiers were buried alongside the first Emperor in Xi’an more than 2,200 years ago. When the burial chambers were discovered in 1974, it was hailed as one of the world's greatest archeological finds. However, after being uncovered the warriors became vulnerable to fungi, which threatened to eat away their façade and destroy them. Dr. Paul was dedicated to finding a way to eradicate the fungi and solve the problem to help preserve this historic wonder. Watch this video to learn more about his resolve to help save China’s national treasure. The terracotta warriors were saved thanks to Dr. Paul, but treatment to preserve them is needed on an ongoing basis. Our company continues to work with museums to continue this preservation.
Dr. Paul passed away in 2003. Throughout his lifetime, he received many awards, including five honorary professorships and 22 honorary doctorates. He was author or co-author of more than 850 scientific publications and was an honorary member of more than 30 scientific institutes and organizations.
In 2004, Johnson & Johnson created The Dr. Paul Janssen Award for Biomedical Research, which aims to extend the legacy of Dr. Paul by honoring the work of an active scientist in academia, industry or a scientific institute who has made a significant, transformational contribution toward the improvement of human health.
For more on Dr. Paul, watch this video about his life and career; read this personal perspective about Dr. Paul from Sir James W. Black, who received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1988; and read this March 2015 article from The Pharmacologist about Dr. Paul’s life and mission.
Ultimately, Paul Janssen’s life was dedicated to creating medicines that meet the unmet needs of millions of patients.
After all, as Dr. Paul often said, “There is so much more to be done; the patients are waiting.”