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 2017

The last month of 2016 saw a final flurry of medtech M&A activity as companies rushed to seal deals before the New Year arrived. Medtech Insight's M&A data tracker recorded twice as many deals in December compared to the previous month, but that was not enough to boost the year's tally, which fell behind 2015.

Biogen signed a $2bn deal with UPenn focused on gene therapy; Thermo Fisher made its second major acquisition this year, paying over $4bn for FEI. Early-stage venture funding and FOPOs made up more than half of the month's total $1.6bn in biopharma financing, and big debt offerings from Wright Medical and Teleflex dominated device financing.

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 2016.