Derived from Strategic Transactions, Informa’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, Pharmaceuticals, and Research/Analytical Tools – and then categorized by type – Acquisition, Alliance, or Financing. This month’s column covers deals announced in September 2015.

Derived from Strategic Transactions, Informa’s premium source for tracking life sciences deal activity, the Medical Device Deals Update column is a survey of recent medtech M&A, alliance, and financing activity. This month’s column covers deals announced August-September 2015.

China attracted $1.9 billion in private equity investment in health care-related fields in 2013, making the sector second only to real estate. But investors at a recent forum in Beijing had divergent opinions on whether the smart money should head into developing devices, clinics or new drug R&D.

Roche is optioning Isis’ Huntington’s disease antisense candidates in a deal worth $282 million and Thermo Fisher paid just over $15 billion for Life Technologies. Biopharma financing was up 23% to $1.2 billion, device fundraising down 35% to $338 million.