Seven companies – GE, Medtronic, ResMed, Hill-Rom, Vyaire, Hamilton Medical and Zoll – will manufacture 64,431 medical ventilators under the Defense Production Act at a cost of more than $1.4bn, the US Department of Health and Human Services said on 13 April. That figure, when combined with the $646.7m recently awarded to Royal Philips to make 45,500 vents, means the US government will spend more than $2bn on the devices.

Philips will make 43,000 medical ventilators by the end of 2020 for use in the US and manufacture 2,500 more for the Strategic National Stockpile in a contract worth more than half a billion dollars.

The US president used his DPA powers on 2 April to make sure the six manufacturers of medical ventilators get the materials and components they need to make the much-needed devices as the COVID-19 pandemic scythes through the US.

Derived from Strategic Transactions, Informa's premium source for tracking life-sciences deals, the bimonthly Pacts In Medtech feature highlights notable technology alliances, research and development partnerships and commercial collaborations. This edition covers industry pacts that were signed in July and August 2019.