Derived from Strategic Transactions, Informa’s premium source for tracking life-sciences deals, the bimonthly Pacts In Medtech highlights notable technology alliances, R&D partnerships and commercial collaborations. In this edition, we look at industry pacts that were sealed in March and April 2018.

Derived from Strategic Transactions, Informa’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 in April 2018.

April had four VC rounds of $100m or more, including Allogene's $300m to develop CAR-T therapies licensed from Pfizer. Innovent Biologics raised $150m, BenevolentAI brought in $115m and Constellation garnered $100m last month.

Biopharma financing started the year solidly with $16.6 billion in total deal value, a 14% increase over the previous quarter. Q1 2018 biopharma merger and acquisition deal value, led by Cigna's $67 billion buy of Express Scripts, topped even the previous all-time-high set in Q4 2107, while alliances totaled $30.7 billion and featured big oncology and neurology partnerships.

China's JW Therapeutics nets $90m for cancer cell therapy, including backing from biotechs Celgene and WuXi. Meanwhile, Foghorn sounds out a $50m A round for its gene trafficking technology applications.

Derived from Strategic Transactions, Informa’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 in March 2018.