Recent executive-level company changes and promotions in the biopharma, medical device and diagnostics industries.

Derived from Strategic Transactions, Informa’s premium source for tracking life sciences deal activity, the Venture Funding Deals column provides a comprehensive monthly review of emerging life science companies that have received venture funding, including companies within the In Vitro Diagnostics, Medical Devices, and Pharmaceuticals sectors. This month’s column covers deals announced March through April 2015.

In Q4 2014 start-ups raised $1.5 billion, a new record. Several companies penned alliances with tech transfer entities; eight start-ups were acquired.

Diversification didn't pay off very well for Italy's Recordati Industria Chimica & Farmaceutica SPA. The company's revised growth strategy depends mostly on developing assets it already has, principally its fine chemicals business, and an already-approved calcium antagonist called lercanidipine.