Stryker, Viatris, Flo, Teva, J&J: This Week in Healthcare
After 14 years at Stryker's helm, during which time company revenue tripled, Kevin Lobo is stepping down as CEO and will begin his transition to the Executive Chair position.
Spencer Stiles, who has spent nearly three decades at the US medtech firm, will replace Kevin. Most recently, Spencer was the company's COO, a position he only assumed in January 2026.
Stryker's CEO succession process is already underway but will formally be completed on 1 January 2027.
On LinkedIn following the announcement, Spencer writes: “It is a tremendous privilege to lead a company with such a rich history, exceptional culture, and purpose-driven mission. I am grateful to Kevin and our Board for their trust and confidence, and I am energised by the opportunity and responsibility to build on the strong foundation that has made Stryker a global leader in medical technology.
“Throughout my career at Stryker, I have seen firsthand what sets our company apart: our talented people, our unwavering commitment to customers and our relentless focus on innovation.”
In the latest pharmaceutical industry deal, Viatris has announced plans to acquire Pacira BioSciences, a specialist in innovative non-opioid pain therapies.
The deal, thought to be worth around US$1.65bn, adds Pacira’s two patented medicines, acute post-surgical pain therapy Exparel and osteoarthritis knee pain treatment Zilretta, to Viatris’ portfolio.
Pacira generated approximately US$746m in total revenue during the last twelve months ended 30 June 2026.
Viatris CEO Scott Smith says the acquisition marks a further step in the company’s strategy to strengthen its innovative medicines portfolio and drive sustainable growth.
On LinkedIn, following the announcement, Scott writes that the deal “advances the strategy we laid out earlier this year – to drive our base business, fuel our innovative portfolio and modernise for sustainable growth.
“Pacira brings established medicines, a promising pipeline and important capabilities that complement our existing portfolio and strengthen our position in non-opioid pain management, an area of significant unmet need.
“Just as importantly, this is about where we go from here. We see an opportunity to build on these medicines and capabilities to support the continued growth of our innovative medicines portfolio.”
Johnson & Johnson has not tried to hide its 2026 revenue goal. The US$100bn figure – the highest in its 140-year history – has been a target referenced in its earnings reports throughout the year.
On 13 October 2026, the pharmaceutical giant published its Q3 earnings report, beating earnings estimates and recording total quarterly sales of US$25.4bn.
In doing so, Johnson & Johnson has also raised its full-year guidance to US$101.2bn.
“Johnson & Johnson’s strong third-quarter performance and increased sequential growth reflect the accelerating momentum of our focused portfolio,” explains CEO Joaquin Duato.
“This progress, together with strategic investments in high-growth areas, gives us clearer line of sight to double-digit growth by the end of the decade,” he continues.
Central to Johnson & Johnson’s continued success in 2026 is, according to Chief Financial Officer Joseph Wolk, the company’s “diversified portfolio.”
J&J's portfolio now includes 29 products and platforms generating at least US$1bn in annual sales, spanning its Innovative Medicine and MedTech divisions.
Google has announced its latest strategic partnership, which will see the global technology giant collaborate with leading women’s health platform Flo Health to integrate the Flo app into Google’s wearable technology.
With more than 80 million monthly users, the Flo app offers in-depth menstrual cycle tracking enhanced by AI and data-backed predictions.
From early 2027, consenting users will have the ability to connect Flo with Google Fitbit, the company’s wearable health platform.
“By teaming up with Flo, together with our personalised coaching, research expertise and 24/7 tracking, we can help women understand their health in entirely new ways,” says Rishi Chandra, Vice President and General Manager of Google Health.
The multi-year partnership accompanies Google’s strategic investment in Flo Health. The companies have outlined plans for future collaborative research into women’s healthcare, aiming to produce new insights into hormonal symptoms and chronic conditions.
As World Mental Health Month draws global support for people with mental health conditions, healthcare providers are focusing on patient-centric drug innovation to provide a wider range of comfortable, accessible treatment options.
The FDA approval of Weltruza, produced by leading generic pharmaceutical provider Teva, signifies a milestone within schizophrenia treatment.
Teva describes Weltruza as the first once-monthly subcutaneous olanzapine formulation for adults with schizophrenia: combining the antipsychotic with long-acting injectable technology, it offers an alternative to daily oral medicines, which patients can face difficulty adhering to.
“I’m incredibly proud of our R&D team and everyone across Teva who helped make this possible,” writes Eric A. Hughes, CMO and Head of R&D at Teva, on LinkedIn. “I’m especially grateful to the patients who participated in our clinical trials and the investigators who partnered with us along the way.”
For Teva, Weltruza’s impending rollout represents a significant strategic achievement as the pharmaceutical company pivots towards developing its pipeline of innovative medicines.
Executives
Eric A. Hughes, MD, PhD
Member Board of Directors
Joaquin Duato
Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer
Kevin Lobo
Chair & CEO
Rishi Chandra
VP/GM for Health and Home
Scott A. Smith
Chief Executive Officer
