Biopharma financing for the second quarter totaled $12.4 billion, a 25% decrease from Q1 2018. Meanwhile Q2 merger and acquisition deal value reached $101 billion, three-quarters of which came from Takeda's $79 billion takeover of major European player Shire. Alliances – totaling $13.8 billion (a significant decline from the previous quarter's $30.7 billion) – featured large partnerships in the antibody space, the biotechnology industry sector with the highest dollar volume.

What are the top 10 most common drug forecasting errors, and how can these be avoided? Life sciences consulting firm, Trinity Partners, explores the ins and outs of forecasting. 

Industry activity in the drug delivery device sector is characterized more by stability than speed. Consort Medical's recent strategic moves have been both deliberate and decisive. For these players, deals with pharma can be several years in the making.

Merck & Co. signed a $1.66 billion deal to license Sutro Biopharma’s immune-modulating cytokine derivatives in oncology and autoimmune disease. Boston Scientific announced two acquisitions, Claret Medical in the embolic protection space, and Cryterion Medical, a cryoablation company. Biopharma and device financing slowed down in July.

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, and Pharmaceuticals – and then categorized by type – Acquisition, Alliance, or Financing. This month’s column covers deals announced in July 2018.

Biopharma and medtech companies are using patient information across the product lifecycle to make evidence generation agile and virtual, and to move beyond single products toward end-to-end patient management.