Medical device financings during the third quarter of 2010 brought in $997 million, an increase of 82% from the second quarter's $548 million. While Q3 M&A activity was down slightly from last quarter - only 15 mergers were completed, compared with 18 in Q2 - more money was involved: an impressive $6.7 billion. The venture rounds for PacBio and Complete Genomics boosted late-stage VC money to $171 million in the third quarter, two-thirds of the entire amount for the in vitro diagnostics/research industry. Despite only five acquisitions closing during the third quarter, the M&A dollar volume for the IVD/research industry was just north of $2 billion.

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.

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.

A roundup of recent medtech strategic alliances, mergers & acquisitions and financings.