Two House Committee leaders are asking HHS Secretary Tom Price about the current status of an overdue pandemic influenza preparedness plan, including diagnostic advancements, that was promised last August. The lawmakers say they are worried about a US return of the H7N9 avian influenza virus, which re-emerged in China earlier this year.

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 August-September 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 in late July-September 2014.

The April 25 emergency authorization covers the use of Arbor Vita Corp.’s rapid H7N9 assay in government laboratories on U.S. citizens who are suspected of exposure to the variant of avian flu in China.