Derived from Strategic Transactions, Informa’s premium source for tracking life sciences deal activity, the Dealmaking column is a survey of recent health care transactions listed by relevant industry segment – In Vitro Diagnostics, Medical Devices, and Pharmaceuticals – and then categorized by type – Acquisition, Alliance, or Financing. This month’s column covers deals announced April through May 2014.

Derived from Strategic Transactions, Informa’s premium source for tracking life sciences deal activity, the Medical Device Deals Update column is a survey of recent medtech M&A, alliance, and financing activity. This month’s column covers deals announced April-May 2014.

Biopharma and medical device start-ups brought in a total of $216 million in Q1 2011. Absent were any financings involving in vitro diagnostics companies. Only four acquisitions involving start-ups were completed - one in biopharma and three in the device industry. Cancer was the most popular therapeutic category among biopharma start-up alliance this quarter.

Biopharma companies raised $3.6 billion in Q1, with almost two-thirds coming from debt sales or follow-on public offerings. Seven of the 19 finalized mergers topped $500 million, but the biggest news was Valeant's attempt to takeover Cephalon. Lilly and BI signed the biggest deal of the quarter when they pooled their diabetes assets in an alliance worth $2.4 billion.