Medical Device and In Vitro Diagnostics/Research Deal Statistics Quarterly, Q4 2009
Executive Summary
Highlights from the Q4 2009 review of medical device and in vitro diagnostics/research dealmaking: Medical device financings - again led by both early- and late-stage VC money, which made up 65% of the quarter's $745mm total - experienced a decline from the previous three-month period, which brought in over $1bn. The year overall fetched just $3.1bn, slightly less than 2008's $3.3bn aggregate. The biggest M&A was Ethicon Inc.'s $785mm takeover of Acclarent Inc. in December. Although Q4 M&A was $1bn higher than Q3, 2009 on the whole was the most dismal year for medtech acquisitions in over five years. On the in vitro diagnostics/research front, the $304mm in financings disappointed as it showed a significant dip from the $821mm done during Q3. Although Vermillion Inc.'s $43mm PIPE made up 19% of the quarter's pie, early- and late-stage VC financings again dominated, together accounting for 65% of Q4's aggregate dollar volume. Becton Dickinson & Co.'s $275mm October buy of molecular diagnostics firm HandyLab Inc. capped off a less-than-outstanding quarter of M&A activity with only five transactions totaling $468mm. For the entire year, in fact, this industry segment only managed to bring in $5.1bn through 21 M&A deals, a significant decrease over 2008's $9.6bn full-year amount.