Biopharma start-ups finally had an increase in financing activity, following three sequential quarters with a decrease. A review of biopharma start-up dealmaking and financing activity from January through March 2018, based on data from Strategic Transactions.

Celularity launched with $250m to develop cell therapies with technology licensed from Celgene and others, while mRNA specialist Moderna brought in another $500m mega round and Generation Bio closed a $100m Series B to fund ongoing gene therapy programs.

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 in January 2018.

Medtech companies brought in $2.3 billion in financing in Q1 2017, a slight decrease from Q4 2016; device M&A deals totaled $5.8 billion, a sharp decline from the prior quarter, but there were some billion-dollar deals. Q1 diagnostics financings – totaling $1.2 billion (thanks to a $900 million Series B round by cancer diagnostics company Grail) – showed a significant increase over the preceding quarter, as did the Q1 M&As at $700 million versus the previous $87 million.