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, Pharmaceuticals, and Medical Devices – and then categorized by type –Acquisition, Alliance, or Financing.

The once high-flying spine market has been brought down to earth recently as industrywide pressures from regulatory approval to payor reimbursement have altered the outlook on profits. These changes can be especially hard on specialized areas of the market such as the scoliosis field, where a great deal of innovation is still in the research stages at universities and start-up companies.