Struggling antibiotic company will go privare under the agreement. Bayer will employ Acuitas's liquid nanoparticle technology in gene therapies developed by subsidiary Asklepios.

Amidst a slew of disappointing IPOs, the moderate success of Genomic Health's IPO signals investor interest in a new diagnostics model: a combination product/service business -- technologically agnostic -- focused on coming up with an answer to a specific yes/no question that will either lead to or discourage an expensive therapy by a specialty physician audience. Several other start-ups are following the same model.

For the past several years, Quest has successfully embarked on a consolidation strategy designed to serve its goal of gaining a competitive advantage, in laboratory testing, with superior distribution strength and increased patient access in a high-volume, low-margin industry. Quest's acquisition of LabOne is consistent with those objectives.

Exact Sciences and its distribution partner, LabCorp are on the verge of launching a new molecular test for colon cancer screening. They've taken deal-making in diagnostics to a new level, but now they have to deliver on their promises.