Palo Alto, Calif.-based Varian Medical Systems will acquire Sirtex Medical Ltd. for about A$1.6 billion (US$1.3 billion). Shares of the acquirer remained flat on the announcement, perhaps because the deal was viewed as somewhat predictable and expensive by investors. Varian also recently had a share price bounce of about 13 percent on better-than-expected performance in its Jan. 24 earnings.

The results are in from the first long-running, randomized study to assess the relative benefits of catheter ablation vs. drug therapy to treat patients with heart failure and atrial fibrillation. The data in the eight-year trial show that ablation roundly bests drug treatment in the prevention of death, stroke and hospitalization.

The results are in from the first long-running, randomized study to assess the relative benefits of catheter ablation vs. drug therapy to treat patients with heart failure and atrial fibrillation. The data in the eight-year trial show that ablation roundly bests drug treatment in the prevention of death, stroke and hospitalization.

Palo Alto, Calif.-based Varian Medical Systems will acquire Sirtex Medical Ltd. for about A$1.6 billion (US$1.3 billion). Shares of the acquirer remained flat on the announcement, perhaps because the deal was viewed as somewhat predictable and expensive by investors.

Palo Alto, Calif.-based Varian Medical Systems will acquire Sirtex Medical Ltd. for about A$1.6 billion (US$1.3 billion). Shares of the acquirer remained flat on the announcement, perhaps because the deal was viewed as somewhat predictable and expensive by investors. Varian also recently had a share price bounce of about 13 percent on better-than-expected performance in its Jan. 24 earnings.