Astellas Pharma Inc. is setting up a joint venture with Yaskawa Electric Corp. to develop a new cell production platform using Yaskawa’s dual-arm humanoid robot called Maholo.

Repligen Corp. acquired 908 Devices Inc.’s desktop portfolio of four devices for bioprocessing process analytical technology (PAT) applications for $70 million in cash.

Ajax Health LLC, with backing from the $4 billion KKR Health Care Strategic Growth Fund II, and Boston Scientific Corp. launched a new business, Flowmod, to advance a system for treating heart failure developed by Boston Sci.

Boston Scientific Corp. agreed to acquire Sonivie Ltd., developer of a therapeutic intravascular ultrasound system for denervation to treat resistant hypertension, pulmonary hypertension and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. On a 100% basis, the deal is valued at $600 million with $400 million up front and $200 million upon achievement of a regulatory milestone.

In a flurry of news releases on Feb. 27, Teleflex Inc. reported plans to buy the vascular intervention business of Biotronik SE & Co. for €760 million (US$791 million), said it intended to split into two separate public companies, floated a $300 million accelerated share repurchase program and reported the impending retirement of Chief Financial Officer Thomas Powell. The news sent the company stock down more than 20%.

The trend of corporate pruning in med tech continues with Solventum Corp.’s decision to sell its purification and filtration business to Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. for $4.1 billion. The announcement follows two other big company splits already in 2025: Baxter International Inc.’s separation of its kidney unit as Vantive, bought by Carlyle Group Inc. for $3.8 billion, and Stryker Corp.’s planned sale of its spinal implants business to Viscogliosi Brothers LLC.

Kyorin Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. struck two licensing deals recently, including one with Hyfe Inc. Feb. 25 to develop the world’s potential first prescription digital therapeutic for chronic cough in Japan.

Despite the number of med-tech deals increasing to 1,902 in 2024, up 12% from 1,701 in 2023, the value of these deals has dramatically declined compared to previous years.

To say that European investors are optimistic about the outlook for the med-tech sector in 2025 is an understatement. A couple of companies are already listed on public markets, acquisitions have been undertaken and med-tech players with cash-rich balance sheets are on the hunt.

In keeping with the trend in med tech to return to basics, Becton, Dickinson and Co. plans to split off its biosciences and diagnostic solutions unit to create two pure-play companies. The ‘New BD’ or RemainCo. will be a focused medical technology company that will include the current company’s medication delivery, specimen management, patient monitoring, pharmaceutical systems, urology, critical care, peripheral intervention and surgery businesses.