Derived from Strategic Transactions, Elsevier Business Intelligence’s premium source for tracking life sciences deal activity, the Medical Device Deals Update column is a survey of recent medtech M&A, alliance, and financing activity. This month’s column covers deals announced October-November 2013.

Derived from Strategic Transactions, Elsevier Business Intelligence’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 October through November 2013.

Highlights from the Q1 2010 review of medical device and in vitro diagnostics/research dealmaking: With most of the funding in the form of venture rounds, medical device financing totaled $548 million in the second quarter, a 10% drop from Q1. Device acquisitions picked up, with 18 transactions completed for an aggregate $4.4 billion. Including GenMark's IPO, the first done in the sector since November 2007, in vitro diagnostic/research financing more than doubled Q1's dollar volume, reaching $364 million in the second quarter. The four IVD/Research acquisitions done in Q2 totalled $226 million.

Highlights from the Q2 2008 review of device and diagnostics dealmaking: financing for medical device firms was down 9% from the first quarter to $838mm, which consisted mainly of late-stage venture rounds at 43% of the total. Big Pharma was surprisingly active in device acquisitions, with Novartis buying 25% of surgical instruments maker Alcon, and BMS selling off ConvaTec to private equity as part of its "string of pearls" strategy to focus on biotech. Two FOPOs dominated the $300mm financing the IVD/Research industry, while Invitrogen's $6.4bn stock swap for Applera's Applied Biosystems represented 90% of the M&A dollar volume.