Johnson & Johnson works to predict who will get diseases

In the 2002 movie “Minority Report,” actor Tom Cruise’s character worked in a future “PreCrime” division to apprehend criminals before they could commit their offenses. In 2015, Johnson & Johnson is working on its own predisease operation.

New Brunswick, N.J.-based Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) wants to identify who is likely to develop a particular disease, and then stop it before it starts. Through three research projects launched by Janssen Research & Development, Johnson & Johnson’s pharmaceutical research arm, the company aims to prevent illnesses including Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, heart disease and Type 1 diabetes, The Associated Press reports.

The scope of the effort is a first for a major drug company, according to The AP. There are a few small-scale projects collecting genetic data or blood samples from patients to develop new therapies or prevent diseases, but big drugmakers have historically focused on making medicines to treat or cure illnesses.

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