Intangible assets and goodwill

12 Months Ended

Dec. 28, 2025

Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]

At the end of fiscal years 2025 and 2024, the gross and net amounts of intangible assets were:


(Dollars in Millions)	2025	2024
Intangible assets with definite lives:
Patents and trademarks — gross(1)	$59,156	44,695
Less accumulated amortization	(32,507)	(26,124)
Patents and trademarks — net	$26,649	18,571
Customer relationships and other intangibles — gross	$21,361	20,310
Less accumulated amortization	(14,998)	(13,544)
Customer relationships and other intangibles — net(2)	$6,363	6,766
Intangible assets with indefinite lives:
Trademarks(3)	1,772	—
Purchased in-process research and development	15,619	12,281
Total intangible assets with indefinite lives	$17,391	12,281
Total intangible assets — net	$50,403	37,618

(1)See Note 18 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional details related to acquisitions and divestitures.

(2)The majority is comprised of customer relationships.

(3)In October 2025, the Company announced its intention to separate its Orthopaedics business, to be named DePuy Synthes. In connection with this strategic decision, the Company determined the DePuy Synthes trademarks will continue to be used on existing and future products. Therefore, $1.7 billion of trademarks associated with the DePuy Synthes brand were reclassified from definite lived to indefinite lived. This reclassification reflects management’s revised expectations regarding the future economic life and continued use of these trademarks through and following the planned separation. Based on a qualitative assessment, the Company concluded that the trademarks are not impaired.

Goodwill as of December 28, 2025 and December 29, 2024, as allocated by segment of business, was as follows:


(Dollars in Millions)	Innovative Medicine	MedTech	Total
Goodwill at December 31, 2023	$10,407	26,151	36,558
Goodwill, related to acquisitions	640	7,569	8,209
Goodwill, related to divestitures	—	(56)	(56)
Currency translation/other	(355)	(156)	(511)
Goodwill at December 29, 2024	10,692	33,508	44,200
Goodwill, related to acquisitions	3,488	—	3,488
Goodwill, related to divestitures	—	(29)	(29)
Currency translation/other	787	326	1,113
Goodwill at December 28, 2025	$14,967	33,805	48,772

The weighted average amortization period for patents and trademarks is approximately 12 years. The weighted average amortization period for customer relationships and other intangible assets is approximately 19 years. The amortization expense of amortizable assets included in Cost of products sold was $4.6 billion, $4.5 billion and $4.5 billion before tax, for the fiscal years ended December 28, 2025, December 29, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively. Intangible asset write-downs are included in Other (income) expense, net.

The estimated amortization expense related to intangible assets for approved products, before tax, for the five succeeding years is approximately:


(Dollars in Millions)
2026	2027	2028	2029	2030
$5,100	4,400	3,700	3,600	3,500

See Note 18 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional details related to acquisitions and divestitures.