Companies across Europe are dealing with new challenges stemming from the coronavirus outbreak, particularly with supply issues due to increased demand. This article details the responses of five consumer health players in the region: Reckitt Benckiser, Zentiva, Vitabiotics, Alliance Pharma and BioGaia.

By harvesting Lactobacillus reuteri from lactating mothers, Infant Bacterial Therapeutics has developed an approach to treat necrotizing enterocolitis, a major killer of premature babies.

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 February through March 2014.

Biopharma start-ups raised $299 million and just over half were Series A rounds. Device companies brought in $134 million, while two diagnostics firms raised $10 million total. Ophthalmology was the most popular theracat for biopharma alliances. Just one acquisition involving a start-up took place.