<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>8-K
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>eightkthirdquartercover.txt
<TEXT>


               SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                     Washington, D.C. 20549


                            FORM 8K

       Current Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
              The Securities Exchange Act of 1934



  Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): October 14,
2003


                        JOHNSON & JOHNSON

     (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


    New Jersey                1-3215              22-1024240

(State or other             Commission        (I.R.S. Employer
jurisdiction                File Number)      Identification No.)
of incorporation)



 One Johnson & Johnson Plaza, New Brunswick, New Jersey   08933

           (Address of principal executive offices)    (zip code)


Registrant's telephone number including area code: (732) 524-0400


Item 5.   Other Events.

On October 14, 2003, Johnson & Johnson ("J&J") issued the attached
press release announcing its sales and earnings for the period
ended September 28, 2003.

Item 9.

On October 14, 2003, Johnson & Johnson announced its consolidated
financial results for the third quarter ended September 28, 2003.
A copy of this press release is furnished with this report as an
exhibit to Form 8-K.  The information contained in this report
on Form 8-K is being furnished pursuant to Item 12 under Item 9 of
Form 8-K as directed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission in Release No. 34-47583.

The following non-GAAP disclosures were included in the press
release to provide investors with information regarding the underlying
business.

Sales growth excluding currency is presented, as the Company
believes that it is a meaningful measure of comparative performance.
Currency fluctuations that are not within the control of management can
have significant impact on the comparability of reported sales and
could disguise meaningful trends in the business.

The Company provided earnings before provision for taxes on
income, net earnings and earnings per share (diluted) excluding in-process
research and development (IPR&D) charges as these charges are related to
business combination transactions.  The Company believes that presenting
information that excludes IPR&D related amounts is helpful in
evaluating the on-going business operations.

The Company provided the growth rates of net earnings and earnings
per share (diluted) for the third quarter of 2003 over the same period
in 2002 that excluded a charge for a settlement of an arbitration
proceeding.  This charge was related to a legal settlement that
occurred in the third quarter of 2002 and the Company believes
that presenting information that excludes this settlement is helpful in
evaluating the on-going business operations.


(c)  Exhibits

Exhibit No.       Description of Exhibit

99.15     Press Release dated October 14, 2003 for the period
          ended September 28, 2003.

99.2O     Unaudited Comparative Supplementary Sales Data and
          Condensed Consolidated Statement of Earnings for the third
          quarter and 9 months year-to-date.




                            SIGNATURE



Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed
on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.



                                   JOHNSON & JOHNSON




Date: October 14, 2003        By: /s/ Stephen J. Cosgrove
                              Stephen J. Cosgrove
                              Chief Accounting Officer




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