A letter sent by 13 House Committee on Oversight and Reform members to HHS Sec. Xavier Becerra asks for information on purchases of tests made overseas, as well as efforts to develop and manufacture diagnostics for future infectious disease outbreaks within the US.

In our 11th annual analysis of Series A financings, we look at five sub-species of A round investors, their habits, habitats, and behaviors during 2014.

Derived from Strategic Transactions, Informa’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 2014.

Start-ups raised $1.19 billion in Q3 2014, 33% more than last quarter. Several reverse licensing alliances were penned; five acquisitions were signed, four in biopharma and one in the device sector.