Horizon's deal to buy River Vision to bolster its orphan product pipeline is cast into the shade by a disappointing first quarter performance for its primary care business.

Horizon will boost its orphan drug business through the acquisition of Raptor, using a combination of debt and cash from its primary care and other assets to fund the transaction.

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, and Pharmaceuticals – and then categorized by type – Acquisition, Alliance, or Financing. This month’s column covers deals announced May and June 2014.

In a deal worth $139 million, UCB and Sanofi are pursuing anti-inflammatory medications for GI conditions and arthritis; Sterigenics bought isotope maker Nordion for $727 million. Public offerings again drove biopharma financing, making up more than 50% of the $3.4 billion raised; device financing totaled $219 million, with most of the funding from debt and FOPO transactions.