Hologic Inc. continues to strengthen its diagnostics businesses via tuck-ins, this time with the acquisition of Diagenode SA for $159 million. The Belgium-based developer of molecular assays and epigenetics products counts more than 30 real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests in its portfolio. Marlborough, Mass.-based Hologic has been on a spending spree in recent months. In January, the company completed the acquisition of Somatex Medical Technologies GmbH for about $64 million and agreed to buy molecular diagnostics company Biotheranostics Inc. for $230 million.

While the new year has recorded a similar number of completed med-tech deals and M&As in comparison with the early months of 2020, the projected values of those transactions are up by 78% and 418%, respectively. Through this week, BioWorld has tracked 204 deals worth $144.65 million, and 62 M&As completed and valued at $12.8 billion, for the first months of 2021.

Grail Inc. is teaming up with Quest Diagnostics Inc. to support the upcoming launch of its multicancer blood test. The early cancer detection test, called Galleri, is slated to begin rolling out in the second quarter of 2021. Quest’s 2,200 patient service centers and network of 5,000 mobile phlebotomists will help to collect blood samples for Galleri once the test becomes available in the U.S.

TORONTO – Think of it. More than 14,000 facilities boasting 98% of the largest hospital chains across the U.S., two-thirds of skilled nursing facilities and hospice organizations and doctors’ offices. It’s that broad customer base Kent Imaging Inc. will have access to following its Jan. 26 agreement with medical software and analytics giant Net Health Inc., helping to expand the footprint of Kent Imaging’s Snapshot device for assessing non-healing wounds, notably those arising from diabetes.

Humacyte Inc., which develops universally implantable, bioengineered human tissue at commercial scale, has agreed to go public via a merger with Alpha Healthcare Acquisition Corp. (AHAC), a blank-check company led by Rajiv Shukla. Upon closing of the deal, AHAC will be renamed Humacyte Inc. and will be led by Humacyte’s current CEO, Laura Niklason. The combined company’s stock is expected to list on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the ticker symbol HUMA.

Patient-centered predictive health company Sema4 said Wednesday it has inked a merger agreement with CM Life Sciences, a special purpose acquisition company led by Casdin Capital and Corvex Management. Upon closing, CM Life Sciences will be renamed and its common stock listed on the Nasdaq global market under a name and ticker symbol yet to be announced.

Ascendum Capital, a health care-focused investment platform founded in 2020, acquired the majority of the shares of a developer of a disposable robotic system designed to navigate tricky vascular passages for an undisclosed amount. Yehuda, Israel-based Endoways Ltd. developed the technology in the Medx Xelerator and will move to Dinova Medtech’s Israeli incubator until its catheter laboratory-focused robot launches for commercial use.

Zimmer Biomet Holdings Inc. continued its transformation, disclosing Friday that it will spin off its spine and dental businesses into a separate, publicly traded company. The move will enable the independent company, identified as Newco, to pursue strategies and growth in spine and dental solutions that have not been a major focus for Zimmer Biomet, while allowing the latter to focus on high-growth orthopedic segments.

HONG KONG – Earlysense Ltd. has sold a contact-free continuous monitoring technology to global med-tech provider Hillrom Holdings Inc. Ramat Gan, Israel-based Earlysense will receive licensing for all intellectual property and technology sold to Chicago-based Hillrom for use outside the hospital along with $30 million in cash, commercial milestone payments and a portion of Hillrom's equity investment

PERTH, Australia – Wellington, New Zealand-headquartered Volpara Health Technologies Ltd. has acquired Boston-based CRA Health LLC for $18 million up front and an additional $4 million to be paid over the next 18 months in earnouts. Volpara’s digital health solutions use imaging and artificial intelligence (AI) for early detection of breast cancer. The company’s clinical functions for screening clinics provide feedback on breast density, compression, dose, and quality, while its enterprise-wide practice software management helps with productivity, compliance, reimbursement and patient tracking.