Biopharma financing for the second quarter totaled $12.4 billion, a 25% decrease from Q1 2018. Meanwhile Q2 merger and acquisition deal value reached $101 billion, three-quarters of which came from Takeda's $79 billion takeover of major European player Shire. Alliances – totaling $13.8 billion (a significant decline from the previous quarter's $30.7 billion) – featured large partnerships in the antibody space, the biotechnology industry sector with the highest dollar volume.

Derived from Strategic Transactions, Informa's premium source for tracking life-sciences deals, the bimonthly Pacts In Medtech highlights notable technology alliances, R&D partnerships and commercial collaborations. In this edition, we look at industry pacts that were sealed in July and August 2018.

New $150m Series C round brings Orchard's tally to nearly $300m, just four months after the start-up acquired a portfolio of gene therapy candidates from GSK and eight months after a $110m round. Gritstone closed a Series C then announced an IPO filing, plus more late-summer VC rounds.

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 July 2018.

Compass raises $132m in Series A as it moves from screening to the clinic, and start-up HotSpot Therapeutics comes out of stealth mode with a $45m Series A financing co-led by Atlas Venture and Sofinnova Partners.

Derived from Strategic Transactions, Informa’s premium source for tracking life sciences deal activity, the Deal-Making 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 June 2018.