Students discover pharmaceutical innovation

28/02/2025

5 min.

A day of training and discussion at the Johnson & Johnson plant in Latina

The value of innovation in pharmaceutical production and the role of young people in the medicine of the future. Yesterday, Thursday 27 February, the event was held around these topics at the Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine plant in Latina, with over 60 young people from the Galilei-Sani and San Benedetto high schools in Latina, who discovered the drug production process guided by company experts.

The initiative is part of the fifth edition of Fattore J, a project promoted with Johnson & Johnson to bring young people closer to the future of health, and is part of a series of initiatives promoted in the month dedicated to cancer prevention (National Cancer Prevention Month) to highlight the crucial role of innovation in the treatment and prevention of oncological diseases.

The young people of Latina have shown themselves ready to embrace innovation. According to a survey conducted by Fondazione Mondo Digitale on the participating students, in fact, medicine (72%) and scientific research (67%) will be the sectors that will benefit most from the impact of artificial intelligence, allowing healthcare to become more effective (56%), rapid (54%) and organized (54%). Also with respect to the challenges of oncology, students believe that AI will play an important role, especially in the continuous monitoring of patients in real time (48%), in prevention (41%) and in accelerating the development of new therapeutic molecules and personalized treatments (41%).

The meeting, opened by the mayor of Latina, Matilde Celentano, also included a discussion between representatives of institutions, the third sector and industry, to consider how the system can work together to ensure that young people are active agents of change in the world of health and research. Speakers included: Jorge Lopez, general manager of the Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine plant in Latina, Simona Mulè, councillor of the Municipality of Latina and vice-coordinator of the Women's Council of Anci Lazio, Paolo Forzan, president of the Italian Association against Leukemia, Lymphoma and Myeloma (Ail) of the Latina section, Mirta Michilli, general manager of the Fondazione Mondo Digitale ETS and Monica Gibellini, Government Affairs, Policy & Patient Engagement Director of Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine Italia.

The Johnson & Johnson plant in Latina is a state-of-the-art facility in the pharmaceutical sector and a pillar of the company's global supply chain. Specializing in key therapeutic areas such as oncology, neuroscience, cardiovascular and immunology, the plant has 700 employees and boasts an output of over 4 billion tablets every year, 97% of which are destined for export. Thanks to a recently announced investment of 125 million euros over the next 5 years, the plant aims to increase its production capacity by over 25%, with a concrete and positive impact on employment and competitiveness in the Lazio region. The plant has been recognized as a Lighthouse Company (i.e. one of the most innovative sites in the world with respect to Industry 4.0 requirements) by the World Economic Forum, in recognition of the company's commitment to sustainable innovation.

From learning to direct experience
One of the most engaging moments of the day was the practical activity in the classroom, during which Johnson & Johnson employees guided the students in an immersive experience, simulating the functioning of a pharmaceutical production line on a small scale. A valuable opportunity to closely observe the industrial processes of a cutting-edge plant and acquire skills that could prove decisive in their future educational and professional careers. “This approach made learning more concrete, allowing participants to directly experience the functioning of an advanced business context and develop transversal skills useful for their future,” explains Elisa Amorelli, communication and social marketing coordinator for the Fondazione Mondo Digitale.

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Statements

“The Municipality of Latina is proud to have in its territory a cutting-edge company like Johnson & Johnson, which stands out not only for its innovation in the pharmaceutical sector, but also for the attention it pays to the new generations. Today's meeting is a concrete demonstration of this: a moment of dialogue and discussion that allows young people to get closer to the world of science and industry, understanding its potential and opportunities. This approach is perfectly in line with the vision of the municipal administration, which has initiated a strategic plan aimed at creating opportunities for future generations both in the field of life sciences and in other areas for the development of the territory. Examples of this are the establishment of scholarships for innovative start-ups and the granting of new spaces to Sapienza, the largest university in Europe, which has been present in our territory for 34 years”.
Matilde Celentano, Mayor of Latina

“Investing in STEM disciplines means creating concrete opportunities for the development of the territory and for the growth of society as a whole. In this context, local institutions play a strategic role: through support policies and the strengthening of the dialogue between companies, schools, universities and local organizations, they can contribute to creating and facilitating an inclusive ecosystem, capable of enhancing everyone's talent and offering the new generations the best opportunities for growth and professional fulfillment. I am particularly pleased that Johnson & Johnson - a global company that nevertheless boasts a strong local presence - has chosen to promote Fattore J here in Latina by involving our students. Thanks to projects like this, we can accompany the new generations in the discovery of strategic educational and professional paths for the future of our community”.
Simona Mulè, Latina City Councilor and Deputy Coordinator of the Women's Council of ANCI Lazio

“The Latina plant is not only a flagship of the local production network, but also plays a crucial role in the company's global supply chain. From here, every year, we have the capacity to produce 4 billion pharmaceuticals, which are exported all over the world. We are thrilled to have welcomed local high school students, giving them the opportunity to see the heart of innovation up close. We hope this experience has inspired them to imagine a future in which, with passion and dedication, they can help develop the medicine of the future and make a difference in people's lives.”
Jorge Lopez, General Manager of the Johnson & Johnson plant in Latina

“Addressing the health challenges of the future requires a synergistic approach in which companies, institutions, academia and the third sector actively collaborate. As Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine, we believe that this alliance is fundamental to creating concrete opportunities for young people and fostering the growth of new skills in the scientific and healthcare sector. Today's discussion with the institutions and the AIL patient association shows how strategic it is to join forces and resources to inspire new generations and make them protagonists of change in the world of healthcare.
Monica Gibellini, Government Affairs, Policy & Patient Engagement Director of Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine Italy

“Today, despite being unable to attend in person due to commitments in the classroom, I had the pleasure of participating in the meeting at the Johnson & Johnson plant in Latina, where I was able to share a clear message: prevention is the key to improving the health of the population and making our healthcare system more efficient. Initiatives like Fattore J are fundamental for raising awareness among young people, who can become promoters of a culture of prevention within their families as well. Prevention means informing people and adopting a healthy lifestyle, and we can do a lot about this, starting with civic education. We'd like to thank Johnson & Johnson for the invitation and wish the young people present a warm welcome: the future of prevention also depends on you!
Luciano Ciocchetti, Vice-President of the Social Affairs Commission, Chamber of Deputies

“For over half a century, AIL has been at the side of patients and their families and has always supported scientific research to offer the best possible care to patients. Solidarity and acceptance are the cornerstones of our Association. Every day, 17,000 volunteers work to provide support to patients and their loved ones, in AIL accommodation facilities, through home care. AIL is also attentive to the world of education because it is aware of the role of schools in helping to form a system of values in young people, a fundamental element in the construction of their personal identity. We are pleased to have taken part in the meeting promoted today by Johnson & Johnson and Fondazione Mondo Digitale, an opportunity to make young people more aware of the importance of innovation in medicine, allowing them to see concretely how it can make a difference in people's lives”. Giuseppe Toro, AIL national president

“An effective training system is born from the integration between school, university, research centers and the world of work, because it is in this interconnection that students develop transversal skills and a mentality open to innovation and continuous learning. With Fattore J we offer them the opportunity to come into contact with centers of excellence and to have immersive experiences that help them understand the value of scientific research. Furthermore, in Latina, the educational community has a strategic role in the construction of an innovative local ecosystem, capable of generating new opportunities for young people and for the territory. For once, instead of witnessing a brain drain, we want to see them arrive: we expect a brain drain... to Latina!”
Mirta Michilli, General Manager of the Fondazione Mondo Digitale ETS

“In the Senate Health Commission we are committed to promoting the mental health of young people starting from schools. The goal is to provide young people with the right tools to take care of their mental well-being. Today's initiative, promoted by J&J, a highly innovative company also committed to the field of mental health, represents an important opportunity to bring students closer to the world of business, making them increasingly aware and protagonists of their future. I invite the students to seize this opportunity and wish them good luck on their journey!”
Elena Murelli, Senator, Senate Health Commission.

“Young people are our future and the Latina area, thanks in part to the presence of innovative companies like J&J, represents excellence for the country. Best wishes to all and good luck for your future!”
Guido Liris, senator, Senate Budget Commission

Students discover pharmaceutical innovation