DEALS ANALYSIS

Deals activity:  Asia-Pacific sees growth in deals volume; asset transaction deals decline YoY

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Deals activity by geography

Medical industry deals, as captured by GlobalData’s Medical Intelligence Centre, are up year-on-year (YoY) across the majority of regions.


North America is leading in terms of deal value, but recorded the lowest YoY growth in deals volume at -49%. Asia-Pacific, ranking third in terms of deal value, has seen the biggest YoY change, with deal volumes increasing by 66%.


The volume of deals recorded by GlobalData also increased YoY in Europe (25%) and Middle East and Africa (29%), but declined in South and Central America (43%)

Deals activity by type

Deal typeTotal deals value ($m)Total deal countYoY change (volume) 
Venture Financing145,13616,84257
Partnership14,96310,770100
Equity Offering381,2768,247200
Acquisition2,028,3657,280-20
Debt Offering1,110,2602,422-6
Asset Transaction99,7141,808-38
Private Equity265,6871,72077
Grant153,154544,878157
Licensing Agreement6,60868146
Merger147,67530522,404

A breakdown of deals by type and volume shows a 22,404% growth in mergers YoY, while acquisitions are down 20%, partnerships are up 100% and asset transactions are down 38%. Financing deals have increased across some types, with venture financing up 57% YoY, equity offerings up 200%, while debt offerings are down 6%.


Private equity has grown by 77% in number of deals YoY, while the number of grants recorded is up 157%. 

Deals activity by therapy area

A notable development apparent in GlobalData’s analysis of medical industry deals by therapy area is the increase of deals in the field of diagnostic imaging. After remaining relatively steady, the number of recorded deals in diagnostic imaging increased significantly in 2019/20. This is likely due to demand caused by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. 


Note: All numbers as of 01 March 2021. Deals captured by GlobalData cover M&As, strategic alliances, various types of financing and contract service agreements.


For more insight and data, visit GlobalData's Medical Intelligence Centre

Latest deals in brief

Axonics acquires urethral bulking agent Bulkamid

Axonics Modulation Technologies has acquired UK-based Contura and its lead product Bulkamid, a urethral bulking agent used in the treatment of female stress urinary incontinence. The transaction includes a total consideration of $200m in cash and stock, along with a potential future milestone of $35m.

NuVasive acquires cervical disc developer Simplify Medical for $150m


NuVasive has acquired Simplify Medical, which develops the Simplify Cervical Artificial Disc for cervical total disc replacement (cTDR), in a deal valued at $150m. With the acquisition, NuVasive can address all key parts of the cervical spine by providing inclusive, procedurally integrated solutions across anterior cervical discectomy and fusion, posterior cervical fusion, and cTDR procedures.

BioIQ and Assurance Scientific partner for Covid-19 at-home test kits


BioIQ and Assurance Scientific Laboratories have entered a partnership to bring over-the-counter RT-PCR Covid-19 testing to market. The direct-to-consumer format of the test received the US Food and Drug Administration’s emergency use authorisation. It helps to test asymptomatic individuals for Covid-19 without requiring a prescription from the physician.

BD and Scanwell Health partner to create at-home SARS-CoV-2 test


Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD) and Scanwell Health have entered a partnership to create an at-home rapid test for SARS-CoV-2 using a BD antigen test and the latter’s mobile app. As part of the collaboration, the company intends to make a lateral flow antigen test and pair it with the Scanwell Health mobile app.

Aptar’s technology to protect Quidel’s Covid-19 antigen test


Aptar CSP Technologies has announced that its Activ-Film technology was selected for protecting a SARS rapid antigen test for Covid-19 developed by Quidel. Quidel’s QuickVue SARS Antigen test is a point-of-care test, which provides results in ten minutes.

Median Technologies and UC San Diego enter research collaboration agreement


Median Technologies has signed a research collaboration agreement with the University of California San Diego in the US to conduct a study for validating the former’s proprietary imaging platform, iBiopsy. Based on artificial intelligence technology, iBiopsy targets developing non-invasive image-based diagnosis tests and solutions for use in indications that have unmet needs.