Derived from Strategic Transactions, Elsevier Business Intelligence’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.

Vivus' first-year sales of its impotence drug surpassed even its most optimistic projections. But that very success led to problems, most notably manufacturing capacity shortfalls, that threaten not just future US growth, but the drug's European launch, just when Vivus is bracing for Pfizer's market entry.