Dealmaking in the device industry is occasional and incremental when compared with the level of activity in pharmaceuticals, the result of that industry's maturing into a handful of dominant players, not all of which see acquisitions as strategically critical to their long-term success. The less-than-robust public market for small device companies is both symptom and cause of the device dealmaking lull. Because the markets they target are generally too small to sustain years of significant growth, few investors are willing to invest in them as stand-alone companies. And without long-term investor support, smaller firms have few options other than to sell out to large companies and little negotiating leverage when they do so.

Public Company Edition: The German mRNA-focused company could raise up to $245m based on its proposed price range, but investor interest could drive the offering’s total higher. Also, Perceptive launches another SPAC, Regeneron sells $2bn in debt and Biohaven secures up to $950m. 

Agency commissioner appeals to AMA audience to communicate message that FDA review decisions are based on good science.