Japan issues approval recommendations in new indications, including Torii's Vtama in atopic dermatitis and AbbVie's Skyrizi in ulcerative colitis. Separately, filing requirements for the use of concomitant therapies have been revised.

Pharma pays $50m up front to tap insitro’s in vitro modeling technology, partners with Sensyne Health in blood disorders. Lilly’s COVID-19 partner AbCellera teams with Kodiak in ophthalmology R&D.

At $1.8 billion, Q2 device financing nearly doubled the Q1 total, mainly from an increase in IPOs and early VC rounds, and acquisitions were slightly higher at $4.7 billion. Diagnostics funding also increased to $784 million from Q1's $597 million, and Danaher's monster $13.8 billion buy of life sciences company Pall headlined the second quarter's $15.6 billion total in diagnostics M&A activity.

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 December 2013 through January 2014.