Key facts
- Smith+Nephew said it approached Johnson & Johnson earlier in 2026 about merging with its orthopaedics arm.
- The company said the conversations have ended and did not give details on why.
- Smith+Nephew cut full-year revenue and profit forecasts, expecting the Orthopaedics slowdown to persist through the final quarter.
- The company said it will continue to explore strategic options for the business.
Smith+Nephew confirmed on November 4 that it approached Johnson & Johnson earlier in 2026 about a potential merger with the US company's orthopaedics arm, but said those conversations have now ended. The company did not provide details on why the talks ended. Reuters reported the talks in October, which collapsed over disagreements on who would run the enlarged group.
The company, which has been grappling with weak growth in its Orthopaedics unit, cut its full-year revenue and profit forecasts as it expects the slowdown to persist through the final quarter. It said it will also continue to explore strategic options for the business.