Derived from Strategic Transactions, Informa's premium source for tracking life-sciences deals, the bimonthly Pacts In Medtech feature highlights notable technology alliances, R&D partnerships and commercial collaborations. This edition covers industry pacts that were sealed in November and December 2018.

Merck Serono and the Australian firm Bionomics have decided to end a collaborative discovery research programme focusing on novel oral small molecule inhibitors of the Kv1.3 ion channel for multiple sclerosis and other autoimmune disorders.

Specialty UK biotech company Circassia plans to progress its ToleroMune cat allergy vaccine into Phase III in the first half 2012 after the follow-up data from its fourth Phase II trial of the product confirmed significant symptom reductions after one year.

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.