Naturex acquires Decas to enter UTI ingredient market; TSI finalizes Yessamin deal; NattoPharma gains U.S. patent for vitamin K2; DSM appoints Goppelsroeder nutritionals head; more news in brief.

The dealmaking column is a survey of recent transactions, including strategic alliances, mergers & acquisitions, and financings, in the life sciences industries. Deals are listed by the following industry sectors: in vitro diagnostics, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and research/analytical instrumentation and reagents. All transactions are excerpted from Windhover's Strategic Transactions database, providing comprehensive transaction coverage from 1991 to the present.

With clinical failure rates rising industry-wide, a skunkworks at Lilly, called Chorus, has been trying to boost likely-to-succeed shots on goal by getting compounds to human proof-of-concept far faster and cheaper than the internal organization. Lilly's R&D group is skeptical about the program, even anxious -- one reason Chorus has teamed up with a major venture fund to get more molecules to test. If the program works, will Lilly embrace it - or will its venture partner reap the rewards?