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 March through April 2014

A preview of the emerging health care companies profiled in the current issue of Start-Up. This month's profile group, "It’s Apples vs. Oranges in the PI3 Kinase Race," features profiles of Arno Therapeutics, Intellikine and Paloma Pharmaceuticals. Plus these Start-Ups Across Health Care: Mesynthes, Miracor Medical Systems, Silicos, Vantia and Vexim.

Paloma Pharmaceuticals Inc. is initially opting for an ophthalmology indication for its PI3K program. It plans to bring its lead compound, an allosteric inhibitor, into clinical trials for age-related macular degeneration in 2010. If all goes well, Paloma might move the same compound into a Phase I oncology trial later that year.

Intellikine is developing a group of compounds capable of selectively inhibiting different PI3K isoforms. It can mix and match components to achieve a variety of therapeutic goals. The company's lead program, an mTOR inhibitor for cancer, is nearing the clinic. The start-up also sees significant potential for its PI3 kinase inhibitors in inflammatory diseases and hopes to begin a Phase I trial in that area next year.