The US market for orthopedic extremities and soft-tissue repair products will grow by $2.2 billion over the next five years, according to a global market report from Medtech Insight. Major factors contributing to the strong growth of this market include: the expanding elderly demographic, an increase in the number of active adults who are prone to physical injuries, and improvements in biological material and implants that reduce complications and improve quality of life.

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.

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.

Expanded indications for bone morphogenetic proteins and new alternatives to those first-generation bone growth factors have the potential to grow the $2 billion market for bone replacement materials. This article is reprinted from the April 2010 issue of Medtech Insight (Also see "Bioactive Technologies for Bone Replacement" - Medtech Insight, 1 Apr, 2010.).