Emerging Company Profile: Decibel Therapeutics, a Boston-based company focused on developing therapies for hearing loss, started adding its voice in an emerging development space in 2015, with the aim of becoming "the premier hearing therapies company." With ongoing research and preclinical candidates for hearing loss, Decibel is looking to secure a beneficial collaboration that will bump up its profile and give it the funding it needs to move forward.

Competition is spurring innovation in the hearing aid market and providers are excited at the prospect of adopting new products that can improve on existing treatments. The hottest area at the moment is implantable hearing aid devices. It's not a new concept, but it's one that many believe will command a significant share of the market.

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 Elsevier's Strategic Transactions database, providing comprehensive transaction coverage from 1991 to the present.

A roundup of recent medtech strategic alliances, mergers & acquisitions and financings.