Nearly stalled Western economies have driven corporations of all stripes to ponder the market potential promised by the so-called BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India and China). The medical device industry is no exception. The BRIC nations present a challenging but lucrative opportunity for companies willing to deviate from traditional markets to access economies with GDPs that place them in the top 15 economies in the world. Of the BRIC nations, China has become the number one destination for health care technology companies in the minds of CEOs of commercial-stage medical device companies. But executives staring only on China might be missing another compelling opportunity that literally rests under their noses: Latin America.

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 database, providing comprehensive transaction coverage from 1991 to the present.