Device fundraising in the fourth quarter totaled $1.5bn, a 42% decrease from Q3's $2.6bn. Q4 M&A activity reached $8.6bn. Q4 diagnostics financings brought in $1.2bn (a 32% increase over Q3) and M&As totaled $1.3bn (the second-highest quarter of the 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 February 2019.

Derived from Strategic Transactions, Informa’s premium source for tracking life sciences deal activity, the Venture Funding Deals column provides a comprehensive monthly review of emerging biopharmaceutical companies that have received venture funding. This month’s column covers deals announced January and February 2019.

At $10.9bn, biopharma financing was at its lowest quarter of the year. GSK’s $5.1bn acquisition of oncology player Tesaro led M&As. And 13 partnerships exceeded the $1bn mark, led by two agreements focused on RNAi.

Cancer drug-developer Black Diamond emerges from stealth mode with Series A and closes Series B in the same month, while aging-focused Juvenescence closes its initial tranche and looks complete Series B by the end of the quarter. 

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 January 2019.