Fecal incontinence is a common, devastating condition that often goes untreated. Eyeing the potential multibillion-dollar opportunity, medtech start-ups are developing approaches that range from small and disposable to surgical and permanent.

Each month, Start-Up presents a survey of technology transfer deals--licensing agreements between companies and universities or other research institutions--in the fields of life sciences, including pharmaceuticals, medical devices, in vitro diagnostics and research/analytical instrumentation and reagents.

The dealmaking column is a survey of recent transactions, including strategic alliances, mergers & acquisitions, and financings, in the life sciences industries. Deals are listed by the following industry sectors: in vitro diagnostics, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and research/analytical instrumentation and reagents. All transactions are excerpted from Windhover's Strategic Transactions database, providing comprehensive transaction coverage from 1991 to the present.

Buoyed by the continuing interest in zebrafish as a model organism for comparative genomics research, Zygogen has developed fluorescent transgenic zebrafish lines it uses to identify and validate new targets and screen drugs.