Investments in regenerative medicine may finally be poised to deliver returns. Many therapies are finally moving into clinical trials. According to "Tissue Engineering and Cell Transplantation: U.S. Markets for Organ Regeneration Products," a report recently published by the Medtech Insight, several key clinical applications will create an almost $24 billion market by 2019.

The dealmaking column is a survey of recent transactions, including strategic alliances, mergers & acquisitions, and financings, in the life sciences industries. Deals are listed by the following industry sectors: in vitro diagnostics, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and research/analytical instrumentation and reagents. All transactions are excerpted from Elsevier's Strategic Transactions

Biopharma, medical device, and in vitro diagnostics start-ups brought in a total of $780 million in Q3 2010, a 29% jump from the previous quarter and a 50% increase from Q3 2009. A total of eight start-up acquisitions closed in Q3, quite a jump from the first two quarters of 2010. The third quarter saw 14 biopharma alliances covering a wide range of therapeutic categories, the most popular indication being cancer.