Thematic Analysis

Critical Findings

Investigation document: Critical Findings

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CRITICAL FINDINGS: Janssen Pharmaceutica Registration Discrepancies

Major Discovery from Belgian Company Register

Source: CompanyWeb.be - Belgian Company Register URL: https://www.companyweb.be/en/0403834160/janssen-pharmaceutica

Official Registration Data

| Field | Value |

|-------|-------|

| Enterprise Number | BE0403.834.160 | | Status | Active | | Established | 23-10-1934 | | Address | Turnhoutseweg 30, 2340 Beerse | | VAT Liability | Yes | | Company Size | Big - 5,209.9 FTE | | Principal Activity | Manufacture of medicaments | | Commercial Names | Janssen Research & Development, Johnson & Johnson, J&J, Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine, J&J Innovative Medicine |

DISCREPANCY ANALYSIS

The Official Narrative Claims:

  • 1953: Paul Janssen "founded" his research laboratory
  • 1956: Company renamed to NV Laboratoria Pharmaceutica Dr. C. Janssen
  • 1961: Acquired by Johnson & Johnson
  • 1964: Name changed to Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V.

The Belgian Company Register Shows:

  • Established: 23 October 1934

This Creates a 19-Year Gap

The official corporate narrative claims Paul Janssen founded his laboratory in 1953, but the Belgian company register shows the company was established in 1934 - when Paul Janssen would have been only 8 years old (born 1926).

Possible Explanations

  • The 1934 date refers to Constant Janssen's original distribution company (N.V. Produkten Richter), which was later transformed into Janssen Pharmaceutica.
  • The company number BE0403.834.160 may have been assigned to the original 1934 entity, with the "Janssen Pharmaceutica" name being applied retroactively.
  • The 1953 "founding" is a marketing narrative rather than a legal incorporation date.

Key Questions

  • Why does the official narrative emphasize 1953 as the founding year when the company register shows 1934?
  • What was the company called between 1934 and 1956?
  • Are there separate company registrations for the different name changes (1956, 1964)?
  • Why is there no separate company registration for "NV Laboratoria Pharmaceutica Dr. C. Janssen" (1956)?

Comparison with Jenssen (NZ) Registration

Deep Sea Trawlers Limited (NZ)

  • Company Number: 159632
  • NZBN: 9429040241388
  • Date of Incorporation: 5 October 1951
  • Previously Known As: Fiona Trawling Company Limited (before 8 August 1963)
  • Status: Removed (31 August 1998)

The New Zealand company has a clear, traceable registration history with documented name changes. The Belgian company's history appears more opaque.

Next Steps

  • Access the Belgian State Gazette (Staatsblad/Moniteur Belge) for historical publications
  • Search for the original 1934 registration documents
  • Verify what company name was registered in 1934
  • Search for any 1953 or 1956 registration amendments

Registered Offices from Belgian Company Register

The Locations tab shows "Registered offices" with the following visible addresses:

| Address | Period |

|---------|--------|

| Zandstraat 10, 2000 Antwerp | 31-05, 10-11-2017 |

| Ravegstraat 97, 1000 Brussels | 01-07-2017 - 08-11-2017 |

| Driepoortstraat 3, 9000 Ghent | 03-12-2014 - 31-12-2016 |

Establishments:

| Address | Est. number | Period |

|---------|-------------|--------|

| Zandstraat 10, 2000 Antwerpen | 2.237.221.855 | Since 11-12-2014 |

CRITICAL OBSERVATION: No Geel Plant Addresses Listed

The Belgian company register for Janssen Pharmaceutica (BE0403.834.160) does NOT show:
  • Plant I (Geel) - claimed to be established 1975
  • Plant II (Geel) - claimed to be established 1977
  • Plant III (Geel) - claimed to be established 1984

The only addresses shown are:

  • Headquarters: Turnhoutseweg 30, 2340 Beerse
  • Registered offices in Antwerp, Brussels, and Ghent (recent years only)
  • One establishment in Antwerp
This raises the question: Where are the official registrations for the Geel manufacturing plants?

Possible Explanations

  • The Geel plants may be registered under a different company number - possibly a subsidiary or separate legal entity.
  • The plants may be registered as "establishments" rather than "registered offices" - but only one establishment is shown.
  • The registration data may be incomplete - though this is the official Belgian company register.
  • The Geel plants may not exist as claimed - or may have been acquired/leased rather than built.

Search Required

Need to search for:

  • Separate company registrations for Geel manufacturing facilities
  • Building permits for Janssen plants in Geel (1975, 1977, 1984)
  • Any subsidiary companies that might own the Geel facilities

Companies Registered at Janssen-Pharmaceuticalaan, Geel

Source: data.be - Belgian company database Address: Janssen-Pharmaceuticalaan, 2440 Geel

CRITICAL FINDING: Only 4 Companies Registered at This Address

| VAT Number | Company Name | Legal Form | Status | Type |

|------------|--------------|------------|--------|------|

| BE 0457.671.338 | Fisher Chimica Foundation | NPROF | Voluntary dissolution - liquidation | Legal Person |

| BE 0451.781.854 | ACROS ORGANICS | PLC | Normal situation | Legal Person |

| BE 0452.902.304 | FISHER CHIMICA | Pr LLC | Merger by acquisition | Legal Person |

| BE 0471.920.737 | UNITED SPORTS BRANDS EUROPE | PLC | Normal situation | Legal Person |

ANALYSIS

What is NOT at Janssen-Pharmaceuticalaan:

Janssen Pharmaceutica NV (BE 0403.834.160) is NOT registered at the Janssen-Pharmaceuticalaan address in Geel.

The main Janssen Pharmaceutica company is registered at:

  • Turnhoutseweg 30, 2340 Beerse (NOT Geel)

What IS at Janssen-Pharmaceuticalaan:

  • ACROS ORGANICS (BE 0451.781.854) - A chemical supply company
  • FISHER CHIMICA (BE 0452.902.304) - Merged by acquisition
  • Fisher Chimica Foundation (BE 0457.671.338) - In liquidation
  • UNITED SPORTS BRANDS EUROPE (BE 0471.920.737) - Sports equipment company

The Street Name Question

The street is named "Janssen-Pharmaceuticalaan" (Janssen Pharmaceutical Lane), suggesting it was named after the company. However:

  • Janssen Pharmaceutica NV is NOT registered at this address
  • The companies at this address are chemical suppliers (Acros, Fisher), not pharmaceutical manufacturers
  • There is no company registration for "Plant I", "Plant II", or "Plant III"

Implications

If Janssen Pharmaceutica claims to operate manufacturing plants at Geel, but:

  • The main company is not registered at Geel
  • No Janssen subsidiary is registered at Geel
  • The only companies at the "Janssen-Pharmaceuticalaan" address are chemical suppliers

Then either:

  • The Geel operations are conducted through unregistered facilities
  • The Geel operations are conducted through the chemical supplier companies (Acros, Fisher)
  • The Geel operations are leased/contracted rather than owned
  • The narrative about "Plant I, II, III" is not reflected in official company registrations

ACROS ORGANICS Connection

ACROS ORGANICS (BE 0451.781.854) is registered at Janssen-Pharmaceuticalaan 3, 2440 Geel. According to Creditsafe, ACROS ORGANICS was incorporated in 1994 at this address. This raises the question: What was at this address before 1994? The narrative claims Plant I was built in 1975, Plant II in 1977, and Plant III in 1984.

Johnson & Johnson SEC Filing - Subsidiaries List (January 1, 2012)

Source: SEC EDGAR Filing, Exhibit 21 URL: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/200406/000119312512075565/d281803dex21.htm

Belgian Janssen Entities Listed:

| Subsidiary Name | Jurisdiction |

|-----------------|--------------|

| Janssen Pharmaceutica NV | Belgium |

| Janssen-Cilag NV | Belgium |

| Janssen Infectious Diseases-Diagnostics BVBA | Belgium |

| J.C. General Services CVBA | Belgium |

| GMED Healthcare BVBA | Belgium |

Swiss Cilag Entities Listed:

| Subsidiary Name | Jurisdiction |

|-----------------|--------------|

| Cilag Advanced Technologies GmbH | Switzerland |

| Cilag AG | Switzerland |

| Cilag GmbH International | Switzerland |

| Cilag Holding AG | Switzerland |

| Cilag Pharmaceuticals GmbH | Switzerland |

CRITICAL OBSERVATION: No Geel Manufacturing Subsidiaries

The SEC filing lists J&J's subsidiaries as of January 1, 2012.

There is NO separate subsidiary listed for:
  • Janssen Geel operations
  • Plant I, II, or III
  • Any manufacturing entity in Geel
This suggests that the Geel operations (if they exist) are conducted under the main Janssen Pharmaceutica NV entity, not as separate subsidiaries. However, as previously noted, Janssen Pharmaceutica NV is registered at Beerse, NOT Geel.

The Geel Address Mystery

From earlier research:

  • Janssen Pharmaceutica NV (BE 0403.834.160) is registered at Turnhoutseweg 30, 2340 Beerse
  • The street Janssen-Pharmaceuticalaan exists in Geel
  • But the companies registered at that address are:
- ACROS ORGANICS (chemical supplier)

- FISHER CHIMICA (chemical supplier)

- UNITED SPORTS BRANDS EUROPE (sports equipment)

No Janssen pharmaceutical manufacturing entity is registered at the Geel address.

Possible Explanation

The Geel facilities may be:

  • Leased properties operated by Janssen Pharmaceutica NV (registered at Beerse)
  • Acquired facilities from other companies (like Acros Organics)
  • Contract manufacturing sites rather than owned facilities
  • Non-existent as described in the corporate narrative

The lack of a separate company registration for the Geel manufacturing plants is notable, especially given that the narrative claims three separate plants (I, II, III) were built over a decade (1975-1984).

Complete List of Janssen/Cilag Entities from SEC Filing (2012)

Belgian Entities:

| Subsidiary Name | Jurisdiction |

|-----------------|--------------|

| Janssen Pharmaceutica NV | Belgium |

| Janssen-Cilag NV | Belgium |

| Janssen Infectious Diseases-Diagnostics BVBA | Belgium |

| J.C. General Services CVBA | Belgium |

| GMED Healthcare BVBA | Belgium |

Janssen-Cilag Global Entities:

| Subsidiary Name | Jurisdiction |

|-----------------|--------------|

| Janssen-Cilag | France |

| Janssen-Cilag AG | Switzerland |

| Janssen-Cilag B.V. | Netherlands |

| Janssen-Cilag, C.A. | Venezuela |

| Janssen-Cilag de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V. | Mexico |

| Janssen-Cilag Farmaceutica, Lda | Portugal |

| Janssen-Cilag Farmaceutica Ltda. | Brazil |

| Janssen-Cilag GmbH | Germany |

| Janssen-Cilag Limited | United Kingdom |

| Janssen-Cilag NV | Belgium |

| Janssen-Cilag Pharmaceutical S.A.C.I. | Greece |

| Janssen-Cilag Pharma GmbH | Austria |

| Janssen-Cilag Pty. Ltd. | Australia |

| Janssen-Cilag, S.A. | Spain |

| Janssen-Cilag, S.A. de C.V. | Mexico |

| Janssen-Cilag S.p.A. | Italy |

| Janssen Cilag Farmaceutica S.A. | Argentina |

Other Janssen Entities:

| Subsidiary Name | Jurisdiction |

|-----------------|--------------|

| Janssen Inc. | Canada |

| Janssen Korea Ltd. | Korea |

| Janssen Pharmaceutica NV | Belgium |

| Janssen Pharmaceutical | Ireland |

| Janssen Pharmaceutical K.K. | Japan |

| Janssen R&D Ireland | Ireland |

| Janssen Biologics B.V. | Netherlands |

| Janssen Biologics (Ireland) | Ireland |

| Janssen Alzheimer Immunotherapy | Ireland |

| Janssen Alzheimer Immunotherapy (Holding) Limited | Ireland |

| Janssen de Mexico, S. de R.L. de C.V. | Mexico |

Swiss Cilag Entities:

| Subsidiary Name | Jurisdiction |

|-----------------|--------------|

| Cilag Advanced Technologies GmbH | Switzerland |

| Cilag AG | Switzerland |

| Cilag GmbH International | Switzerland |

| Cilag Holding AG | Switzerland |

| Cilag Pharmaceuticals GmbH | Switzerland |

KEY OBSERVATION

There is NO separate manufacturing subsidiary for Geel operations.

All Belgian Janssen operations appear to be conducted through:

  • Janssen Pharmaceutica NV (main entity, registered at Beerse)
  • Janssen-Cilag NV (sales/marketing)
  • Janssen Infectious Diseases-Diagnostics BVBA (diagnostics)
  • J.C. General Services CVBA (services)
  • GMED Healthcare BVBA (healthcare)

None of these are registered at the Geel address where the "Plants I, II, III" are claimed to exist.

Janssen Geel - Factory of the Future Award Article (2019)

Source: Catalisti.be Date: 07/02/2019 URL: https://www.catalisti.be/en/news/janssen-first-chemical-and-pharmaceutical-company-win-factory-future-award

Key Claims in the Article:

> "At the start-up in March 1975, Dr Paul Janssen's ambition was to make Janssen Geel the best of all chemical production sites of the international pharmaceutical group Johnson & Johnson (J&J)."

> "Over forty years later, the high-tech production centre has become the main launch platform of new Janssen drugs for the world market."

Observations:

  • The article is from 2019 - This is a contemporary promotional piece, not historical documentation.
  • The claim is that the site "started up" in March 1975 - but this is stated without any supporting documentation or references.
  • No historical photos or documents are provided - The article shows modern executives receiving an award, not historical evidence of the 1975 startup.
  • The article is promotional in nature - It was written for a "Factory of the Future Award" announcement, not as historical research.

The Verification Problem

The claim that Janssen Geel started in March 1975 is repeated across multiple sources, but:

  • All sources trace back to company-provided information
  • No independent contemporary documentation from 1975 has been found
  • No building permits, newspaper articles, or government records from 1975 have been located
  • The Belgian company register does not show any Janssen entity registered at Geel

What Would Verify the 1975 Claim?

To verify that Janssen Geel was established in March 1975, one would need:

  • Building permits from the Geel municipal archives (1974-1975)
  • Contemporary newspaper coverage of the factory opening
  • Company registration amendments showing the Geel address
  • Employment records showing staff hired at Geel in 1975
  • Photographs from the construction or opening ceremony
  • Government inspection records from 1975

None of these have been located in the publicly available record.

Verification of Paul Janssen's 1951 Medical Degree - University of Ghent

Source: Universiteit Gent - Archief (University Archive) URL: https://www.ugent.be/nl/univgent/collecties/archief/collectie_publiek/zoekwijzer/afgestudeerdezoeken.htm

How to Verify a 1951 Graduate

According to the University of Ghent archive, graduates from the academic year 1950/1951 would be listed in:

"Plechtige opening der leergangen. Verslag over de(n) toestand der Universiteit gedurende het academisch jaar..."

(Solemn opening of courses. Report on the state of the University during the academic year...)

This publication covers: 1923/1924-1979/1980

Important Note from the Archive:

> "1858/1859-1927/1928: enkel de studenten geslaagd met onderscheiding, grote of grootste onderscheiding worden vermeld. Vanaf 1928/1929 worden alle geslaagden opgenomen."

Translation: From 1858-1928, only students who graduated with distinction were listed. From 1928/1929 onwards, ALL graduates are included.

Verification Status

Paul Janssen is claimed to have graduated "magna cum laude" (with great distinction) from Ghent University in 1951.

If this claim is true, his name should appear in:

  • "Plechtige opening der leergangen" for academic year 1950/1951
  • Listed under the Faculty of Medicine (Geneeskunde)
  • With notation of "magna cum laude" or "grote onderscheiding"

Access Requirement

> "OPGELET: Gedrukte bronnen zijn vrij raadpleegbaar, primaire bronnen niet. Je moet voor inzage over de toestemming van de afgestudeerde te beschikken of je opzoekingen goed kunnen verantwoorden."

Translation: Printed sources are freely accessible, but primary sources require permission from the graduate or justification for research.

Verification Challenge

To independently verify Paul Janssen's 1951 graduation:

  • The printed graduation lists from 1950/1951 should be publicly accessible at the University of Ghent archive
  • His name should appear in the Faculty of Medicine section
  • The distinction "magna cum laude" should be noted

However, this verification would require:

  • Physical access to the University of Ghent archive, OR
  • A digitized version of the 1950/1951 graduation lists
No digitized version of these records has been found online.

The Verification Gap

The claim that Paul Janssen graduated "magna cum laude" from Ghent University in 1951 is repeated in:

  • Wikipedia
  • Encyclopedia.com
  • BMJ obituary
  • New York Times obituary
  • Johnson & Johnson corporate materials
However, all of these sources cite each other or company-provided information. No source has been found that independently verified this claim against the University of Ghent's official graduation records.

Royal Academy of Overseas Sciences - Official Biography of Paul Janssen

Source: Koninklijke Academie voor Overzeese Wetenschappen (KAOWARSOM) URL: https://www.kaowarsom.be/en/notices_janssen_paul_adriaan_jan

Critical Information Extracted:

#### 1. The 1934 Founding - NV Produkten Richter

> "Constant Janssen stichtte op 23 oktober 1934 te Turnhout een farmaceutisch bedrijf voor de verkoop van de Richter-producten, nl. de N.V. Produkten Richter, met als monopolie de verkoop van deze producten in België, Nederland en Belgisch Congo (na de oorlog werd de naam gewijzigd in Richter-Eupharma)." Translation: Constant Janssen founded on October 23, 1934 in Turnhout a pharmaceutical company for the sale of Richter products, namely NV Produkten Richter, with a monopoly on the sale of these products in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Belgian Congo (after the war the name was changed to Richter-Eupharma).

#### 2. The Richter Connection - Hungarian Pharmaceutical Company

> "Zijn vader, een succesrijke huisarts, had na zijn studies geneeskunde te Gent in 1921 een beurs gekregen voor pediatrie in Wenen. Daar leerde hij Ladislas Richter kennen. Die leidde in Boedapest, Hongarije, een bloeiend farmaceutisch bedrijf." Translation: His father, a successful general practitioner, after his medical studies in Ghent in 1921, received a scholarship for pediatrics in Vienna. There he met Ladislas Richter. He led a flourishing pharmaceutical company in Budapest, Hungary.

#### 3. Company Timeline Clarification

| Date | Event |

|------|-------|

| 23 October 1934 | NV Produkten Richter founded in Turnhout |

| 1938 | Constant Janssen stops medical practice to focus on company |

| Post-WWII | Name changed to Richter-Eupharma |

| 1953 | Paul Janssen starts research division within family company |

| 5 April 1956 | NV Laboratoria Pharmaceutica C. Janssen incorporated |

| 27 April 1957 | Company moves to Beerse |

| 2 May 1958 | Operates independently as NV Research Laboratorium C. Janssen |

| 17 July 1961 | Private agreement reached between J&J and Janssen family |

| 24 October 1961 | J&J officially acquires all Janssen shares |

| 10 February 1964 | Company renamed to Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V. |

#### 4. Paul Janssen's Education - Detailed Timeline

| Period | Institution | Notes |

|--------|-------------|-------|

| 1937-1943 | Sint-Jozefcollege, Turnhout | Greek-Latin humanities |

| 1943-1944 | Facultés Notre-Dame de la Paix, Namur | Rhetoric |

| 1944-1945 | Namur | First candidature natural sciences |

| 1945-1949 | Catholic University of Leuven | Second candidature, first and second doctorate medicine |

| 1948 | USA (6 months) | Cornell, Harvard, Chicago, Caltech |

| 1949-1951 | Rijksuniversiteit Gent | Third and fourth year medicine |

| 1951 | Ghent | Doctorate in medicine "met grote onderscheiding" |

| 1951-1952 | Cologne (military service) | Research at Pharmacological Institute |

| 1950-1956 | Ghent | Free assistant at Pharmacological and Therapeutic Institute |

| 1956 | Ghent | Aggregaat (habilitation) under Corneel Heymans |

KEY FINDINGS FROM THIS SOURCE

1. The Company Was Originally a DISTRIBUTION Company

The 1934 company (NV Produkten Richter) was NOT a research or manufacturing company. It was a distribution company for Hungarian Richter pharmaceutical products.

This is significant because:

  • The official narrative presents Janssen Pharmaceutica as a research-driven company founded by Paul Janssen
  • In reality, the company was founded as a sales/distribution operation by Constant Janssen
  • Paul Janssen only started a "research division" within this existing company in 1953

2. The Richter Connection

Gedeon Richter is a Hungarian pharmaceutical company founded in 1901 in Budapest. It still exists today as one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in Central and Eastern Europe. The original Janssen company was essentially a Belgian distributor for Richter products.

3. Multiple Company Names

The company went through several name changes:

  • NV Produkten Richter (1934)
  • Richter-Eupharma (post-WWII)
  • NV Laboratoria Pharmaceutica C. Janssen (1956)
  • NV Research Laboratorium C. Janssen (1958)
  • Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V. (1964)

This raises questions about which company registration corresponds to which entity.

4. The Belgian Company Register Date (1934) is Confirmed

The Royal Academy biography confirms that the company was founded on October 23, 1934 - matching the Belgian company register date we found earlier.

This is NOT a discrepancy - it's confirmation that the company existed since 1934, but was originally a Richter distribution company, not a Janssen research company.

Gedeon Richter Company - Wikipedia Confirmation

Source: Wikipedia - Gedeon Richter (company) URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gedeon_Richter_(company)

Key Statement:

> "In 1934, Constant Janssen, of the future Janssen Pharmaceuticals, acquired the distribution rights for Gedeon Richter's products."

About Gedeon Richter:

  • Founded: 1901 in Budapest, Hungary
  • Founder: Gedeon Richter (1872-1944), pharmacist
  • Current Status: European multinational pharmaceutical and biotechnology company
  • Headquarters: Budapest, Hungary
  • Listed: Budapest Stock Exchange (BUX Index constituent)
  • Market Cap: ~$6.6 billion (2018)
  • Operations: Over 100 countries
  • Largest R&D unit: Central and Eastern Europe

The 1934 Connection - CONFIRMED

Wikipedia independently confirms that:

  • Constant Janssen (Paul Janssen's father) acquired distribution rights for Gedeon Richter products in 1934
  • This is consistent with the Belgian company register showing the company was established on October 23, 1934
  • The original company was NV Produkten Richter - a distribution company for Hungarian pharmaceutical products

SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS FINDING

The Original Business Model

The Janssen company was NOT originally:

  • A research company
  • A manufacturing company
  • Founded by Paul Janssen

The Janssen company WAS originally:

  • A distribution company for Hungarian Richter products
  • Founded by Constant Janssen (Paul's father)
  • Established in 1934 (when Paul was 8 years old)

The Narrative Shift

The official corporate narrative emphasizes:

  • Paul Janssen as the "founder"
  • 1953 as the founding year
  • Research and innovation as the core identity

The historical record shows:

  • Constant Janssen as the actual founder
  • 1934 as the founding year
  • Distribution of Hungarian products as the original business
This represents a significant reframing of corporate history to emphasize Paul Janssen's role and the research identity, while downplaying the company's origins as a distribution business for a Hungarian pharmaceutical company.

Janssen vs Jenssen - Surname Etymology and Origins

Janssen (Belgian/Dutch/Flemish)

Source: Wikipedia, FamilySearch, Geneanet
  • Origin: Dutch/Flemish patronymic surname
  • Meaning: "Son of Jan" (Jan being a derivative of Johannes/John)
  • Prevalence:
- 7th most common name in the Netherlands

- Most common surname in Belgium (over 100,000 bearers)

- Rare in Norway and Denmark

  • Spelling variants: Jansen, Janson, Janssens

Jenssen (Norwegian)

Source: Wikipedia, House of Names
  • Origin: Norwegian patronymic surname
  • Meaning: "Son of Jens" (Jens being a Danish/Frisian derivative of Johannes)
  • Prevalence: Common in Norway and Denmark
  • Spelling variants: Jensen, Jenson

Key Distinction

| Feature | Janssen | Jenssen |

|---------|---------|---------|

| Origin | Flemish/Dutch | Norwegian/Danish |

| Root name | Jan | Jens |

| Spelling | Double 's' | Double 's' with 'e' |

| Geographic | Belgium, Netherlands | Norway, Denmark |

The Spelling Difference is Significant

  • Janssen with 'a' = Flemish/Dutch origin (Belgium, Netherlands)
  • Jenssen with 'e' = Norwegian/Danish origin (Scandinavia)
The Jenssen family of Napier, New Zealand (Finn and Jens Jenssen) used the Norwegian spelling, indicating their Scandinavian origin. The Janssen family of Turnhout, Belgium (Constant and Paul Janssen) used the Flemish spelling, indicating their Belgian origin.

No Direct Family Connection Found

Despite the phonetic similarity, no evidence has been found of any direct family connection between:

  • The Belgian Janssen family (pharmaceutical)
  • The Norwegian Jenssen family (fishing, New Zealand)

The names derive from the same root (Johannes/John) but through different linguistic traditions:

  • Flemish: Johannes → Jan → Janssen
  • Norwegian: Johannes → Jens → Jenssen

However, this does not preclude the possibility that:

  • The narratives were conflated or borrowed
  • Records from one family were used to construct the history of another
  • The similarities are coincidental but exploited

Gedeon Richter Official Company History - Key Observations

Source: Gedeon Richter Official Website URL: https://www.gedeonrichter.com/en/about/history

Timeline from Official History:

| Year | Event |

|------|-------|

| 1901 | Gedeon Richter purchases pharmacy in Budapest |

| 1906 | Buys land in outskirts of Budapest for expansion |

| 1908 | First foreign representation established in Italy |

| 1923 | Transformed into family joint-stock company |

| 1929 | Grand Prix at Barcelona International Exhibition |

| 1939 | Declared defense plant |

| 1944 | Founder Gedeon Richter dies |

| 1948 | Company nationalized |

CRITICAL OBSERVATION: No Mention of Belgium or Janssen

The official Gedeon Richter company history does NOT mention:
  • The 1933/1934 distribution agreement with Constant Janssen
  • Any Belgian distribution partner
  • Any connection to Janssen Pharmaceutica

This is notable because:

  • Wikipedia states that "In 1934, Constant Janssen... acquired the distribution rights for Gedeon Richter's products"
  • The Royal Academy biography confirms this connection
  • Yet Gedeon Richter's own official history makes no mention of it

Possible Explanations:

  • The agreement was minor - Perhaps the Belgian distribution was not significant enough to include in the official history
  • Post-nationalization erasure - The 1948 nationalization may have erased pre-war international agreements from corporate memory
  • The agreement never existed - The claim may be fabricated or exaggerated
  • Selective history - Richter may have chosen not to highlight this particular partnership

The Founder's Death - 1944

Gedeon Richter (the person) died in 1944 - during World War II. This is significant because:
  • He was Jewish and was killed during the Holocaust
  • The company was nationalized in 1948 under Communist rule
  • Pre-war international distribution agreements would have been disrupted

This raises questions about the continuity of any 1934 distribution agreement through WWII and nationalization.

Frans Van den Bergh - Key Figure in Janssen History

Source: Wikipedia URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frans_Van_den_Bergh

Biography:

  • Full Name: Frans, Baron Van den Bergh
  • Born: 1 May 1914 in Merksplas
  • Died: 21 October 1990 in Turnhout
  • Occupation: Belgian businessman

Key Roles:

  • Founded cigar factory "Alto" in Turnhout
  • President of Management Board of Janssen Pharmaceutica (1961-1980)
  • 6th Chairman of Belgian Nuclear Research Centre (SCK CEN) (1975-1986)

CRITICAL FINDING: Family Connection

> "In addition to his success with Alto, he was by the marriage of his daughter Lea related to Margriet Fleerackers, the mother of Dr. Paul Janssen. For these reasons, he was asked by the parents of Dr. Paul Janssen, Constant Janssen and Margriet Fleerackers, to help them manage the growing family business with its five branches."

The J&J Acquisition:

> "He led the negotiations with Johnson & Johnson which resulted in the acquisition of Janssen Pharmaceutica in 1961. It was Frans Van den Bergh who suggested the name Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V. for the company, which was accepted by Dr. Paul Janssen, and this name has been in use since 10 February 1964."

ANALYSIS: The Name "Janssen Pharmaceutica"

Critical Observation:

The name "Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V." was NOT the original name of the company. It was:
  • Suggested by Frans Van den Bergh (not a Janssen family member)
  • Accepted by Paul Janssen in 1964
  • Only adopted after the J&J acquisition (1961)

Timeline of Company Names:

| Year | Name | Notes |

|------|------|-------|

| 1934 | NV Produkten Richter | Original name - Richter distribution |

| Post-WWII | Richter-Eupharma | Name change |

| 1956 | NV Laboratoria Pharmaceutica C. Janssen | First use of "Janssen" name |

| 1958 | NV Research Laboratorium C. Janssen | Independent operation |

| 1961 | (Acquired by J&J) | Still using old name |

| 1964 | Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V. | New name suggested by Van den Bergh |

Implication:

The "Janssen Pharmaceutica" brand identity was created AFTER the J&J acquisition, not before. The company was essentially rebranded as part of its integration into J&J.

This raises questions about how much of the "Janssen" corporate identity and history was constructed post-acquisition versus being organic to the original company.

Paul Janssen - Pre-1961 Academic Publications (VERIFIED)

1957 Publication - Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology

Title: "A NEW SERIES OF POTENT ANALGESICS - DEXTRO 2:2-DIPHENYL-3-METHYL-4-MORPHOLINOBUTYRYLPYRROLIDINE AND RELATED AMIDES Part I. Chemical Structure and Pharmacological Activity" Authors: Paul A. J. Janssen, Anton H. Jageneau Affiliation: Pharmacology Department, Laboratoria Pharmaceutica Dr. C. Janssen, Turnhout, Belgium Published: September 1957 Journal: Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Volume 9, Issue 1, pp. 381-400 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-7158.1957.tb12290.x

References in the 1957 Paper (Earlier Publications):

  • Janssen et al., Arch. int. Pharmacodyn., 1955, 103, 82, 100, 120
  • Janssen, "Over de pharmacologie van een reeks propylaminen" (Thesis, University of Ghent, 1956)
  • Janssen et al., Arch. int. Pharmacodyn., 1956, 107, 194
  • Janssen et al., J. Amer. chem. Soc., 1955, 77, 4423
  • Janssen and Jageneau, Experientia, 1956, 12, 293

ANALYSIS: Independent Verification of Paul Janssen's Pre-1961 Work

What This Confirms:

  • Paul Janssen was publishing in peer-reviewed journals from at least 1955
  • The company name "Laboratoria Pharmaceutica Dr. C. Janssen" was in use by 1957
  • The location was Turnhout, Belgium (not Beerse - Beerse came later)
  • He had a co-author (Anton H. Jageneau) - indicating a research team existed
  • His 1956 thesis at University of Ghent is referenced - confirming academic credentials

What This Does NOT Confirm:

  • The 1953 founding date (earliest publication found is 1955)
  • The existence of manufacturing facilities
  • Any financial records or company registration details
  • The scale of operations

Significance:

This is independent, verifiable evidence that Paul Janssen was conducting pharmaceutical research in Belgium in the mid-1950s. The publications in international peer-reviewed journals (Archives internationales de Pharmacodynamie, Journal of the American Chemical Society, Experientia) provide third-party verification that cannot be easily fabricated.

However, this does not address:

  • The 1934 vs 1953 founding date discrepancy
  • The Richter distribution company origins
  • The lack of registered addresses for manufacturing facilities

Paul Janssen - Earliest US Patents (VERIFIED)

US Patent 3,004,977 (1961)

Source: Google Patents / USPTO URL: https://patents.google.com/patent/US3004977A/en Patent Details:
  • Patent Number: US3,004,977
  • Title: Lower alkyl esters of 1-(2-benzoylethyl)-3-methyl-4-phenylpiperidine-4-carboxylic acid and 1-(3-hydroxy-3-phenylpropyl)-3-methyl-4-phenylpiperidine-4-carboxylic acid
  • Inventor: Paul A. J. Janssen
  • Current Assignee: Individual (NOT a company)
  • Filing Date: April 29, 1960
  • Priority Date: April 29, 1960
  • Publication Date: October 17, 1961
  • Status: Expired - Lifetime

Key Observations:

  • Filed as Individual, NOT as Company
- The assignee is listed as "Individual" - NOT Janssen Pharmaceutica

- This suggests the patent was filed in Paul Janssen's personal name

  • Timeline Alignment
- Filed: April 1960

- Published: October 1961

- This is AFTER the J&J acquisition discussions began (1961)

  • Earlier Patents Referenced
- The patent cites US2962501A as prior art

- This indicates earlier work in the field

Summary of Independent Verification of Paul Janssen's Work

VERIFIED (Independent Third-Party Sources):

| Type | Date | Source | Details |

|------|------|--------|---------|

| Publication | 1955 | Archives int. Pharmacodyn. | First peer-reviewed publication |

| Publication | 1955 | J. Amer. chem. Soc. | Publication in US journal |

| Thesis | 1956 | University of Ghent | Aggregaat thesis |

| Publication | 1957 | J. Pharm. Pharmacol. | Analgesics research |

| US Patent | 1961 | USPTO | US3,004,977 |

NOT INDEPENDENTLY VERIFIED:

| Claim | Alleged Date | Issue |

|-------|--------------|-------|

| Company founding | 1953 | No contemporary documentation found |

| Research laboratory | 1953 | No building permits or addresses verified |

| Plant I, II, III | Various | No registered addresses found |

| Manufacturing operations | Pre-1961 | No independent verification |

Conclusion:

Paul Janssen's academic and research credentials are verifiable through peer-reviewed publications and patents. However, the corporate history and manufacturing claims remain less well-documented through independent sources.

DETAILED BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: PAUL JANSSEN (Encyclopedia.com)

Source: Encyclopedia.com - Janssen, Paul Adriaan Jan

Key Biographical Details

| Field | Information |

|-------|-------------|

| Full Name | Paul Adriaan Jan Janssen | | Born | September 12, 1926, Turnhout, Belgium | | Died | November 11, 2003, Rome, Italy | | Father | Constant Janssen (general practitioner) | | Medical Degree | State University of Ghent, 1951 | | Postdoctoral Degree | Pharmacology, 1956 |

Father's Company - The 1934 Origin (CONFIRMED)

> "In 1934, [Constant Janssen] founded N.V. Producten Richter, a company that initially imported and sold products from the Hungarian company Richter." CRITICAL FINDING: This confirms the Belgian company register date of October 23, 1934. The company was originally a distribution/import business for Hungarian Richter products, NOT a research company.

Complete Timeline of Company Evolution (Encyclopedia.com)

| Year | Event | Source |

|------|-------|--------|

| 1934 | N.V. Producten Richter founded by Constant Janssen | Encyclopedia.com |

| 1945 | Paul Janssen enrolls at Catholic University in Leuven | Encyclopedia.com |

| 1951 | Paul Janssen receives medical degree from Ghent | Encyclopedia.com |

| 1953 | Paul Janssen starts research facility at father's company | Encyclopedia.com | | April 5, 1956 | N.V. Laboratoria Pharmaceutica founded | Encyclopedia.com | | 1958 | N.V. Researchlaboratoria Dr. C. Janssen founded in Beerse | Encyclopedia.com | | October 1961 | Registered office moved from Turnhout to Beerse | Encyclopedia.com | | October 24, 1961 | Johnson & Johnson acquires company through share swap | Encyclopedia.com | | February 10, 1964 | Company renamed to Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V. | Encyclopedia.com |

Critical Analysis

This source confirms several key discrepancies:

  • The 1934 founding was NOT a pharmaceutical research company - it was a distribution business for Hungarian products
  • Paul Janssen did not "found" the company in 1953 - he started a research facility within his father's existing distribution company
  • Multiple company name changes:
- 1934: N.V. Producten Richter (distribution)

- 1956: N.V. Laboratoria Pharmaceutica

- 1958: N.V. Researchlaboratoria Dr. C. Janssen

- 1964: Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V.

  • The "Janssen Pharmaceutica" name was only adopted in 1964 - AFTER the J&J acquisition

Archive Information

> "Janssen Pharmaceutica, Beerse (Belgium) is the owner of an extensive collection of archives, a series of interviews, and company publications."

This confirms that historical records exist but are held privately by the company, not in public archives.

Verification Status Summary

| Claim | Status | Evidence |

|-------|--------|----------|

| 1934 company founding | VERIFIED | Belgian register + Encyclopedia.com |

| Original business: distribution | VERIFIED | Encyclopedia.com |

| 1953 research lab start | VERIFIED | Encyclopedia.com |

| 1961 J&J acquisition | VERIFIED | Encyclopedia.com |

| 1964 name change | VERIFIED | Encyclopedia.com |

| "Founded in 1953" claim | MISLEADING | Company existed since 1934; 1953 was research lab start |