With multiple large M&A deals already announced in January, CEOs of major med-tech companies outlining acquisition plans for 2025 and declining interest rates, the stage is set for a significantly more active year of M&A. Financings, too, have ticked up and analysts expect the trend to continue, offering hope for a positive year for the med-tech industry.

Electrocore Inc. Quell(ed) any concerns about its commitment to the bioelectronic health segment with an agreement to acquire Neurometrix Inc., maker of the Quell, a wearable device and cloud-enabled neuromodulation platform to treat fibromyalgia and lower extremity chronic pain. Neurometrix is expected to divest its other primary product, Dpncheck, a point-of-care screening test for diabetic peripheral neuropathy, prior to the acquisition.

Jacobio Pharmaceuticals Group Co. Ltd. out-licensed rights for two lung cancer assets in China to Shanghai Allist Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd. through a potential ¥900 million (US$126.4 million) deal. Beijing-headquartered Jacobio said Aug. 30 that it signed off development, regulatory and commercial milestone rights to both glecirasib, a KRAS G12C inhibitor first targeting non-small-cell lung cancer, and a SHP2 inhibitor called JAB-3312.

Illumina Inc. wasted no time in returning to the M&A front, closing the acquisition of Fluent Biosciences Inc. on July 9 with cash on hand, just a fortnight after freeing itself of Grail Inc. Fluent’s single-cell analysis technology expands Illumina’s presence in the life sciences, possibly marking a turn away from the diagnostics focus that led to the Grail debacle. The acquisition price was not disclosed.

The years’ long effort by activist investor Politan Capital Management LP to take control of the Masimo Corp. board of directors and oust Masimo CEO and founder Joe Kiani took a turn for the weird this week as news emerged that Masimo Chief Operating Officer Bilal Muhsin notified the board that he would step down if Kiani were pushed out.

Quest Diagnostics Inc. and Pathai Inc. established a forward-looking deal with multiple components and room for growth. The collaboration includes Quest’s acquisition of Pathai Diagnostics – the division that provides anatomic and digital pathology laboratory services – and licensing of Pathai’s Aisight digital pathology image management system. The companies also said they may work together on development of Pathai’s algorithm products and that Quest will be a preferred provider for Pathai’s biopharmaceutical clinical laboratory services.

Eilean Therapeutics LLC has announced the acquisition of Ness Therapeutics Inc. in an all-equity transaction, including Ness’ best-in-class tyrosine-protein phosphatase non-receptor type 2 (PTPN2) inhibitors with application in immuno-oncology.

Travere Therapeutics Inc. inked a licensing deal with Tokyo-based Renalys Pharma Inc. to develop sparsentan in 13 Asian countries, becoming the latest news to heat up the immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) therapy space.

Travere Therapeutics Inc. inked a licensing deal with Tokyo-based Renalys Pharma Inc. to develop sparsentan in 13 Asian countries, becoming the latest news to heat up the immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) therapy space.