Swander Pace Capital's Swanson Health deal announced Jan. 25 is the firm's second in two months in the supplement industry after acquiring Captek Softgel in December. OTC drug and supplement firms in 2016 could be among the consumer product spaces targeted in likely higher private equity investing.

Q3 2012 biopharma financing, at just over $3 billion, showed a 13% increase over Q2. Follow-on public offerings again were the most prevalent financing type, accounting for a third of these dollars. M&A volume was down to just over $7 billion, compared with Q2’s $35.9 billion and only two Q3 transactions topped the billion-dollar mark. Antibody alliances made up just over a quarter of the total $2.2 billion in deal volume, with 19 deals signed in the area.

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, medical devices, pharmaceuticals, and research/analytical instrumentation and reagents. All transactions are excerpted from Elsevier's Strategic Transactions database, providing comprehensive transaction coverage from 1991 to the present.

Markwins International has acquired Physicians Formula Holdings, offering roughly $10 million more than previous suitor Swander Pace Capital. The merger “will strengthen the combined portfolio of brands,” Physicians Formula CEO Ingrid Jackel says.