Despite being a slow month, megadeals abounded in February, as the medtech M&A market saw a hat-trick of billion-dollar deals. Medtech Insight recorded 12 deals for the month, on par with January's volume but down from 16 in February 2016.

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement specialist Symetis has made its maiden acquisition, buying preclinical-stage mitral valve repair firm Middle Peak Medical.

To stave off the sluggish growth in established markets, multinational medtechs not only are finding new business in countries with booming health care industries, but they’re also forging new ways to serve customers. Device companies now are pushing into services, such as disease management, and angling to compete more aggressively on pricing.

It’s the 10th anniversary of START-UP’s A-List, an analysis of the year’s Series A life science funding, and a highlight of the year’s most interesting new companies. Deal flow was up this year, as was the average disclosed amount of financing.