Totals for aggregate deals and in the M&A, alliance and divestment categories were similar among the 10 busiest deal makers from 2020 to 2021, but COVID-19 may have driven a more hectic deal-making pace overall in 2020.

Colorado-based Bolder recently announced the global launch of the CoolSeal vessel sealing platform, which will complement Hologic’s obstetrical/gynecological surgery product line.

A new UK company, Poolbeg Pharma, has been set up to develop new anti-infectives in an efficient manner, and already has a repositioned MAP kinase inhibitor for the treatment of severe influenza ready for Phase II studies.

The impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the size of the pharma R&D pipeline in 2020 could be felt in a number of ways.