More than 18 months after announcing plans to spin off its kidney care division as a standalone public company, Baxter International Inc. reached an agreement to sell the business for $3.8 billion to global equity investor Carlyle and Atmas Health instead. The transaction is expected to close in late 2024 or the first quarter of 2025.

Nevro Corp. retained advisors to explore strategic alternatives, including a possible sale of the business or acquisitions that could shift its focus to earlier points in the pain management process. The spinal cord stimulator company faces increased competition in its core market.

Zimmer Biomet Holdings Inc. reported it will buy Orthogrid Systems Inc., a company that makes artificial intelligence-driven surgical guidance systems for total hip replacement for an undisclosed amount, and expects to complete the deal by the end of the fourth quarter of 2024.

Medtronic plc looks to establish a moat around its diabetes pump position with an exclusive global partnership with Abbott Laboratories to develop a Freestyle Libre-based CGM that works with Medtronic’s smart dosing devices and insulin pump.

Mediwound Ltd. reported that the Nexobrid expanded treatment access protocol achieved complete debridement in 94.9% of adults and all children treated and removed all eschar within 24 hours. The results put more power behind a partnership with Vericel Corp. that introduced Nexobrid, an enzymatic debridement agent for severe thermal burns, into the U.S. in the fourth quarter of 2023 and increases the likelihood of an indication expansion into pediatrics.

Stryker Corp. continued its recent buying spree with the purchase of Molli Surgical Inc., a company that develops wire-free soft tissue localization technology for breast-conserving surgery. Styker said Molli’s offerings strengthen its advancing surgical solutions in breast cancer care.

Triastek Inc., of Nanjing, China, scored a potential $1.2 billion collaboration and platform technology license deal with Biontech SE to manufacture oral RNA therapeutics with 3D printing technology.

It’s a quad-pack for Edwards Lifescience Corp. as it reported its third and fourth deals this month – agreements to buy Jenavalve Technology Inc. and Endotronix Inc. for a combined up-front cost of about $1.2 billion plus up to $445 million in contingent milestone payments.

Owens & Minor Inc. plans to acquire Rotech Healthcare Holdings Inc. in a $1.36 billion cash transaction expected to close by year end. The deal shows serious commitment to a strategy outlined in December to build out its home health business.

New U.S. SEC rules designed to reel back the special purpose acquisition (SPAC) market went into effect on July 1, yet only a few weeks later two such companies completed IPOs and are now targeting mergers with health care and life sciences firms, including biopharma and medical technology.