J&J quarterly sales rise 4.2 percent

Johnson & Johnson reported a 4.2 percent increase in quarterly revenue, fueled by strong sales in its prescription drugs business.

The company's net earnings rose to $4.27 billion, or $1.53 per share, in the third quarter, from $3.36 billion, or $1.20 per share, a year earlier.

Sales rose to $17.82 billion from $17.10 billion.

(Reporting by Natalie Grover in Bengaluru; Editing by Sriraj Kalluvila)