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 August-September 2014.

Acute ischemic stroke used to be a device category that promised a slow but certain death for start-ups. But there's lots of life in the market, as evidenced by a recent wave of consolidation. Meanwhile, hemorrhagic stroke companies have been perfecting the treatment of cerebral aneurysms.

Originally intent on developing a contagion-prevention product for biodefense, Pulmatrix Inc. now has much larger ambitions. The company believes its new technologies for formulating drugs as dry powders and delivering them via inhalers will make its lead respiratory drug candidate more convenient and potent. Pulmatrix also sees the methods as a discovery engine likely to give rise to partnerships and branded generics.

Medtech Insight interviews Adnan Siddiqui, MD, PhD, assistant professor of neurosurgery and radiology at the State University of New York, Buffalo, a pioneer in the use of interventional technology for acute ischemic stroke. Siddiqui offers his perspective on the current state of endovascular devices for AIS, the unique challenges faced by physicians in this field, and the factors driving interest in stent-based technologies.