In an interview at the J.P. Morgan meeting, Roche R&D and partnering execs John Reed and Sophie Kornowski-Bonnet review progress and aspirations in new therapeutic areas like ophthalmology, antimicrobials and CNS diseases.

Pfizer received worldwide rights to Opko Health's Phase III human growth hormone Lagova; Merck and Otsuka made billion-dollar M&As in infectious and neurological diseases, respectively. Biopharma and device financing were down compared with November.

Derived from Strategic Transactions, Informa’s premium source for tracking life sciences deal activity, the Dealmaking column is a survey of recent health care transactions listed by relevant industry segment – In Vitro Diagnostics, Medical Devices, Pharmaceuticals, and Research/Analytical – and then categorized by type – Acquisition, Alliance, or Financing. This month’s column covers deals announced December 2014.