Just as the Small Business Innovation Research program achieved a congressional fix for the knotty problem of letting companies with VC support apply for the “valley of death” grants, it may have fallen behind again with its de facto exclusion of virtual start-ups. Companies have until July 16 to comment on the program’s updated implementing regulation.

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.