Consumers of aesthetic procedures are still looking for the perfect option – one that produces a more youthful looking face, but does not require much, if any, downtime. Ideally, these consumers also would like something that offered a long-lasting effect and was delivered with minimal pain and discomfort. At the 2011 AAFPRS conference, held recently in San Francisco, CA, the Emerging Trends and Technologies session focused on new and developing technologies that could meet some of these demands.

Medtronic's INFUSE bone morphogenetic protein is the only product in the musculoskeletal industry that has changed the bar in terms of bone healing, and it is under fire for complications related to off-label use. As regulators and payors crack down on INFUSE and hospitals restrict access to the product, surgeons are seeking alternatives and there are a number of companies lining up to fill the void

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 database, providing comprehensive transaction coverage from 1991 to the present.

Medtronic's INFUSE bone morphogenetic protein is the only product in the musculoskeletal industry that has changed the bar in terms of bone healing, and it is under fire for complications related to off-label use. As regulators and payors crack down on INFUSE and hospitals restrict access to the product, surgeons are seeking alternatives and there are a number of companies lining up to fill the void