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Healthcare News, Deals, and Investments Update October 26th, 2026

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Healthcare News and Deals

  1. EQT Private Equity has agreed to acquire QIAGEN N.V. (NYSE: QGEN) in a recommended all-cash voluntary public takeover offer valuing the molecular testing company at approximately $12.1 billion enterprise value. EQT XI, through Crown NL Bidco, is offering €46.50 per share in cash — a 40.3% premium to the unaffected XETRA close on July 8. Including about $1.1 billion of net debt, the deal values QIAGEN at roughly $12.1 billion. The Dutch tools and diagnostics company has been the subject of takeover talk for years. Both boards are recommending the offer after a strategic review. Affiliates of the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority and Canada Pension Plan Investment Board are co-investing. QIAGEN will keep its name and brand. (Link)
  2. HealthSpan Partners to Acquire Surgery Partners, Establishing a Leading Outpatient Surgical Care Platform HealthSpan Partners has agreed to buy Surgery Partners (NASDAQ: SGRY), the Bain Capital-backed operator of ambulatory surgery centers and surgical hospitals. Reports put the value at about $6 billion, including roughly $3.5 billion of debt, with Bain keeping its nearly 40% stake. Surgery Partners runs more than 170 surgical facilities across 30 states. HealthSpan is an affiliate of Bon Secours Mercy Health and is picking up a large outpatient surgical footprint. (Link)
  3. AEA Investors-Backed American Oncology Network Agrees to a $2.4 Billion Sale to Cencora, Adding 350+ Community Oncology Providers to Cencora’s Physician MSO Platform. Cencora (NYSE: COR) signed a definitive agreement on October 20 to buy the roughly 96% of Fort Myers-based American Oncology Network (OTCQX: AONC) it does not already own. The deal values AON at $2.4 billion enterprise value — $2.3 billion at closing plus up to $100 million in contingent value rights. Some AON holders can roll up to 25% of their equity; if they do, Cencora expects to write a check of about $1.7 billion for 75% ownership. AON brings more than 350 providers across 21 states and adds 12 new states to Cencora’s MSO footprint. Clinical decisions stay with AON physicians. It is Cencora’s fourth physician-platform deal since January 2025, after Retina Consultants of America, OneOncology and the EyeSouth retina business. (Link)
  4. Kohlberg Is Buying Alcanza Clinical Research from Martis Capital for Approximately $800–850 Million Axios Pro reported that Kohlberg is buying Alcanza Clinical Research from Martis Capital for between $800 million and $850 million. Alcanza is a clinical research site network founded in 2021 that focuses on inclusive trial access and runs more than 25 sites across the U.S. and Puerto Rico. It does Phase I–IV studies for pharma sponsors and CROs. (Link)
  5. Blackstone- and TPG-Backed Hologic Signs a Definitive Agreement to Acquire Reveal Genomics, Maker of the HER2DX Breast Cancer Test Hologic, now owned by Blackstone and TPG after a take-private of up to about $18.3 billion, has agreed to buy Barcelona-based Reveal Genomics. Reveal makes the HER2DX genomic test, which helps guide therapy for HER2-positive breast cancer. The test sits alongside Hologic’s Breast Cancer Index assay and adds another treatment-selection tool. It is the first clear sign that the new owners plan to use Hologic as a buy-and-build platform in women’s-health diagnostics. (Link)
  6. Apogem Capital Leads a Minority Investment in Revelstoke-Backed Family Care Center, Returning Capital to LPs While Revelstoke Stays In Family Care Center, the outpatient mental health platform backed by Revelstoke Capital Partners, closed a minority equity sale led by Apogem Capital. Revelstoke is staying in. Since Revelstoke partnered with founder Dr. Chuck Weber in December 2020, the company has grown entirely by opening new clinics — from four locations in one state to more than 50 across five states. It now has more than 800 providers and expects nearly 1 million treatment sessions in 2026, across therapy, psychiatry, TMS and intensive outpatient programs. Revelstoke described the deal as a way to return capital to its LPs without selling the whole company. Jefferies advised Family Care Center. (Link)
  7. EQT-Backed Sagility Agrees to Acquire Tennessee’s Chirok Health for Up to $32.35 Million, Adding Clinical Documentation Integrity and Coding Capability Sagility (US) Holdings, a subsidiary of the EQT-backed healthcare BPO Sagility, signed a definitive agreement on October 21 to buy Chirok Health, a Tennessee firm that does revenue cycle management, clinical documentation integrity and medical coding. The price is $20 million at closing plus up to $12.35 million in earnout. Chirok did about $9 million of revenue in 2025. The deal adds provider-side capability for Sagility. (Link)
  8. Altaris-Backed Tegria Acquires CloudWave, Its First Add-On Since the Providence Carve-Out, to Build a Healthcare Cybersecurity and Hosting Platform Tegria, the healthcare consulting, managed services and technology company that Altaris carved out of Providence in January 2026, bought CloudWave. CloudWave does cloud hosting, managed IT and cybersecurity (LECO sold BlueOrange to Cloudwave in 2025) only for healthcare clients, and it runs a dedicated 24/7 security operations center. CloudWave CEO Erik Littlejohn becomes president of Tegria’s Enterprise Technical Solutions. It is Tegria’s first add-on since the carve-out. (Link)
  9. Renovus Capital Partners Strikes a Deal for Chicagoland Orthopedic Home Health Provider Aspire Home Health Care Renovus Capital Partners, the Philadelphia-area lower-middle-market firm that already owns Louisiana home health and hospice platform Superior Health Holdings, has agreed to buy Aspire Home Health Care. Aspire was founded in 2013 and is based in Morton Grove, Illinois. It provides skilled nursing and therapy at home for patients recovering from orthopedic procedures, surgeries and complex conditions. The deal gives Renovus a post-surgical home health business in the Chicago market. (Link)
  10. Kohlberg-Backed Trinity Life Sciences Acquires Verix to Add AI-Driven Commercial Execution Tools for Pharma Trinity, the life sciences commercialization advisory and analytics firm that Kohlberg & Company has owned since 2021, bought Verix. Verix’s Tovana platform uses AI to give pharmacommercial teams next-best-action recommendations, patient finding and HCP targeting, and it is used by large pharma companies. The deal moves Trinity from strategy and insights into software that field teams actually use day to day. (Link)
  11. New Harbor Capital’s LGM Pharma Acquires New Jersey Contract Lab Sannova Analytical LGM Pharma, the API sourcing and CDMO platform that New Harbor Capital has majority-owned since 2017, bought Sannova Analytical. Sannova is a Somerset, New Jersey contract lab that does bioanalytical and CMC testing for pharma and biotech companies. It had been backed by SFW Capital Partners since 2022. The deal adds an East Coast testing operation to LGM’s development and manufacturing services. (Link)
  12. Blue Sea Capital-Backed One Physics Adds Two West Coast Medical Physics Firms, Expanding into the Pacific Northwest and Northern California One Physics, the largest outsourced medical physics company in North America, is buying two firms that do diagnostic medical physics and radiation safety work in the Pacific Northwest and Northern California. Blue Sea Capital has backed One Physics since 2019 and moved it into a single-asset continuation vehicle earlier this year. The company has already done 22 acquisitions and serves more than 7,000 client sites in 45+ states with over 210 physicists. (Link)
  13. HCAP Partners- and Salt Creek-Backed Real Diagnostics Adds Saliva-Based Oral Health Testing Firm SimplyTest Real Diagnostics (RealDx), the Maryland-based high-complexity molecular lab that Salt Creek Capital and HCAP Partners bought in September 2025, acquired SimplyTest. SimplyTest makes saliva-based tests, including its PERIO test, that identify bacteria linked to gum disease, and it sells to dentists and functional medicine practices. The add-on gives RealDx, which serves physician offices and clinics in 17 states, a cash-pay dental product line next to its reimbursed UTI, STI and respiratory testing. (Link)
  14. Thompson Street Capital-Backed Savillex Completes Carve-Out of Entegris’ Life Sciences Fluid Management Business Savillex, the Eden Prairie, Minnesota high-purity fluoropolymer and single-use bioprocessing company backed by Thompson Street Capital Partners, completed its acquisition of Entegris’ (Nasdaq: ENTG) life sciences fluid management business. The business includes Aramus and PE bioprocess bags, single-use assemblies and components. The carve-out deepens Savillex’s position with biopharma and cell and gene therapy manufacturers, and lets Entegris focus on semiconductor materials. It follows Savillex’s 2024 acquisition of Optimum Processing. Sidley advised Savillex. (Link)
  15. Sopris Capital Merges the Blackford Analysis Imaging-AI Platform, Carved Out of Bayer, into Portfolio Company Azra AI Azra AI said on October 20 that it had completed the acquisition of Blackford Analysis from Sopris Capital. Sopris had carved Blackford out of Bayer earlier in the month. Blackford’s vendor-neutral orchestration platform gives radiology departments access to more than 130 imaging-AI applications from 45+ vendors. Azra identifies patients with cancer and other complex conditions and coordinates their follow-up care. Putting the two together connects the imaging finding to the care pathway that follows it. (Link)
  16. Pacific Lake Partners-Backed Vitana Pediatric & Orthodontic Partners Acquires Louisiana’s Hollis Orthodontics, Its Fifth Deal of 2026 Vitana Pediatric & Orthodontic Partners, a dentist-led partnership organization backed by Pacific Lake Partners that focuses only on pediatric dental and orthodontic practices, bought Hollis Orthodontics in Prairieville, Louisiana, outside Baton Rouge. The practice is led by Dr. Bryan Hollis. Vitana now supports practices in Florida, Alabama, Louisiana, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. This is its fifth deal of 2026. (Link)
  17. DuneGlass Capital-Launched Aviva Aesthetics Enters Florida Through a Partnership with Allenby Cosmetic Dermatology Aviva Aesthetics, the founder-led medical aesthetics network that DuneGlass Capital launched, partnered with Allenby Cosmetic Dermatology, the practice of cosmetic dermatologist Dr. Janet Allenby. It is Aviva’s first Florida location, about seven weeks after the Perfect Skin Center partnership took the platform to 20 sites. Aviva markets its “Entrepreneur Equity” model to founders who have turned down traditional private equity MSO structures: founders keep decision-making authority and financial upside. (Link)
  18. Redesign Health and Sheba Medical Center’s ARC Global Merge in an Approximately $2 Billion Combination to Build an End-to-End Health System Innovation Platform Redesign Health, the venture and applied technology firm that has launched more than 60 healthcare companies, is merging with ARC Global, the innovation arm of Israel’s Sheba Medical Center. The combined company is valued at about $2 billion, according to a source familiar with the deal. The parties have also agreed to buy AVIA, the health-system digital technology advisory firm. Brett Shaheen will be CEO; Stephen Klasko, M.D., will chair the board; and ARC founder Eyal Zimlichman, M.D., will become vice chair. The idea is to put engineering, AI and capital inside health systems so clinician-originated ideas can become products and companies that scale across a network of more than 100 systems. (Link)
  19. Horizon Mutual Holdings, parent of Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, has entered an agreement to acquire Summit Health New Jersey, including its New Jersey CityMD urgent care centers, in a transaction reported at more than $1 billion. Horizon confirmed the agreement, which is subject to regulatory review and could close by year-end. Summit Health is one of New Jersey’s largest multispecialty physician networks; the New Jersey portion includes primary, specialty and 39 CityMD urgent care sites. It is Horizon’s largest deal since its 2022 conversion to a nonprofit mutual holding company. Horizon said the acquisition is meant to preserve access, improve quality and affordability for members, and support continued independence of Summit’s physicians. (Link)
  20. Alcon Acquires Rhode Island’s Neurotech Pharmaceuticals for $550 Million Plus Milestones, Picking Up ENCELTO, the Only FDA-Approved MacTel Type 2 Therapy Alcon completed the acquisition of Neurotech Pharmaceuticals on October 20 for $550 million upfront, plus possible contingent payments tied to commercial milestones. The deal brings in ENCELTO (revakinagene taroretcel-lwey), an encapsulated cell therapy implant approved in March 2025 and the only FDA-approved treatment for macular telangiectasia type 2. Neurotech estimates there are about 25,000 MacTel patients in the U.S., with 2,000 to 3,000 new diagnoses each year. Alcon expects the deal to modestly add to sales growth and slightly reduce core EPS in 2027, then add to EPS after that. (Link)
  21. Labcorp Agrees to Buy Myriad Genetics’ Prenatal Health Testing Business for $210 Million in Cash as Myriad Narrows Its Focus to Oncology Labcorp (NYSE: LH) signed a definitive agreement to buy Myriad Genetics’ (NASDAQ: MYGN) Prenatal Health testing business, including the Prequel, Foresight, SneakPeek and FirstGene tests, for $210 million in cash plus inventory value at closing. Labcorp expects about $160 million of first-year revenue, slight accretion to adjusted EPS in year one, and average diagnostics-segment margins by the end of year two. The carve-out comes out of Myriad’s strategic review, after prenatal revenue fell about 16% in the first half of 2026. It follows closely on Labcorp’s $722 million BioReference deal. (Link)
  22. Risant Health has signed a definitive agreement to acquire INTEGRIS Health, Oklahoma’s largest nonprofit health system, pending regulatory approvals. INTEGRIS Health would become Risant’s third member system after Geisinger and Cone Health. Headquartered in Oklahoma City, INTEGRIS operates roughly 20 acute and specialty hospitals and the state’s largest physician network, employing about 13,000 people. It will keep its name, medical staff, brand and leadership. Risant, backed by Kaiser Permanente, is focused on value-based care; INTEGRIS leadership pointed to access to additional capital, technology including Epic, and clinical tools that the system could not scale on its own. (Link)
  23. Bolt Biotherapeutics, Inc. (NASD: BOLT) has completed the acquisition of Prana Therapies, Inc. in a stock-for-stock reverse merger concurrent with a $120 million private placement. The sign-and-close reverse merger exchanges Prana equity for Bolt common stock and Series D non-voting convertible preferred stock. A concurrent financing raises $120 million in upfront gross proceeds from the purchase of Series D preferred, with up to an additional $60 million available if accompanying warrants are exercised. Investors include Deep Track Capital, ADAR1 Capital, Andreessen Horowitz, LYFE Capital, Eventide Asset Management, Casdin Capital and Soleus Capital. The combination focuses on Prana’s INSPIRE platform and lead bispecific antibody PRA-216 (IL-4Rα/TSLP). Proceeds are expected to fund operations into 2028. Sheila Gujrathi, M.D., former Prana CEO, joins as chief strategy officer and board member. (Link)
  24. OpenAI Acquires a16z-, 8VC- and Insight-Backed Orchestra Bio to Bring Agentic Drug-Program Management into Its Rosalind Life Sciences Suite OpenAI acquired San Francisco-based Orchestra Bio on October 20. Orchestra’s AI agents help biopharma teams coordinate drug development programs — they monitor studies, track timelines and flag delays that can spread across a program. Orchestra came out of stealth in 2025 with about $20 million from investors including Andreessen Horowitz, 8VC and Insight Partners. Its team and technology will be folded into Rosalind, OpenAI’s life sciences offering, which already has pharma partners such as Moderna and Novo Nordisk. (Link)
  25. Hackensack Meridian Health Signs a Definitive Agreement to Acquire Hunterdon Health, Committing $230 Million to the Central New Jersey System Hackensack Meridian Health, New Jersey’s largest health system, signed a definitive agreement to acquire Hunterdon Health. Hunterdon is anchored by the 184-bed Hunterdon Medical Center teaching hospital and has more than 30 medical practices. HMH committed $230 million in investment, and the deal would bring it to 19 hospitals. No closing timeline was given. (Link)
  26. Beacon Biosignals Acquires Snap Diagnostics to Expand EEG-Enabled Home Sleep Testing Nationwide Beacon Biosignals, an AI-powered precision neurotechnology company, has acquired Snap Diagnostics, a national home sleep testing provider. Snap operates as a Medicare-registered Independent Diagnostic Testing Facility accredited by The Joint Commission and serves patients in all 50 states with end-to-end shipping, scoring and interpretation. The acquisition more than doubles Beacon’s patient reach and gives it a channel to bring its FDA-cleared EEG headband technology into primary care, telehealth and specialty settings starting in 2027. (Link)
  27. CentraCare and Stellis Health Announce Plans to Integrate, with Completion Targeted for January 1, 2027 CentraCare, the integrated nonprofit health system serving Central, Southwest and West Central Minnesota, and Stellis Health, a physician-owned medical group with more than 60 providers in Wright County, have announced plans for Stellis to become part of CentraCare. The combination builds on a longstanding partnership that already includes a shared Epic electronic medical record and collaboration at CentraCare – Monticello. Stellis shareholders have voted to proceed. (Link)
  28. Further Acquires Welbi to Combine Senior Living Sales AI with Resident Experience Management Further, the Charleston-based AI platform for senior living sales and marketing, has acquired Ottawa-based Welbi, a resident experience platform. Together they reach more than 8,000 senior living communities. Further’s suite (ProspectAI, SalesAI, ResidentAI, OpsAI) helps operators attract and convert prospects; Welbi helps communities personalize daily programming and track engagement. Welbi founder and CEO Elizabeth Audette-Bourdeau will continue to lead Welbi’s operations. (Link)
  29. Vimian Group Expands Its Veterinary Surgical Offering Through the Acquisition of Norfolk Medical Products Vimian Group AB (publ), the Stockholm-based animal health company, has signed an agreement to buy Norfolk Medical Products, a family-owned U.S. provider of implants and consumables for veterinary soft-tissue surgery. Norfolk, founded in 1981, does about $6.9 million in revenue and specializes in vascular access ports and related implantable solutions. The deal is Vimian’s first move into specialized soft-tissue surgery and is expected to have a marginal impact on 2026 earnings. (Link)

Venture Deals and Other

  1. Star Therapeutics has raised $200 million in private financing to advance its preclinical pipeline of novel biologics after prior exits of subsidiary assets. The round was co-led by OrbiMed and Janus Henderson Investors, with participation from RA Capital Management, Sofinnova Investments and others. Star, founded by Adam Rosenthal, has a history of discovering biologics and advancing them through subsidiaries that were later sold or taken public, including the sale of Vega Therapeutics to Incyte and the IPO of Electra Therapeutics. Rosenthal called the financing a reset, with the company focusing on early-stage programs rather than a hub-and-spoke model going forward. Proceeds will be used to move current preclinical assets into the clinic. (Link)
  2. OpenAI Startup Fund and Founders Fund Co-Lead a $45 Million Round for Coherence Neuro’s AI-Enabled Brain Tumor Implant The round was co-led by OrbiMed and Janus Henderson Investors, with participation from RA Capital Management, Sofinnova Investments and others. Star, founded by Adam Rosenthal, has a history of discovering biologics and advancing them through subsidiaries that were later sold or taken public, including the sale of Vega Therapeutics to Incyte and the IPO of Electra Therapeutics. Rosenthal called the financing a reset, with the company focusing on early-stage programs rather than a hub-and-spoke model going forward. Proceeds will be used to move current preclinical assets into the clinic. (Link)
  3. FirstMark Capital Leads a $40 Million Series A for Baba, with CVS Health Ventures Joining, to Build AI Care Teams for Medicare and Medicaid Members New York-based Baba, an applied AI company working on the Medicare and Medicaid experience, raised a $40 million Series A led by FirstMark Capital. CVS Health Ventures and Valtruis joined, and General Catalyst, Genius Ventures and Ground Up Ventures returned. The funding will expand Baba’s clinical care teams, advance its AI research and grow its health plan partnerships. (Link)
  4. Healthleap has raised $38 million in seed and Series A funding to expand its AI platform that flags at-risk hospital patients from electronic medical records. The total comprises an $8 million seed round co-led by Sequoia Capital and First Round Capital and a $30 million Series A led by Hummingbird Ventures. Founded in 2022 by siblings Jemima and Josiah Meyer, the South African-origin company analyzes clinical notes, labs, vitals and medication records to surface risk scores for conditions such as malnutrition and delirium. It is used in more than 50 hospitals including Penn Medicine, Cedars-Sinai, Houston Methodist and Emory Healthcare. (Link)
  5. Allumia Ventures Leads a $10 Million Series A for Home-Based Lung Disease Telehealth Provider Kivo Health Kivo Health, a telehealth provider of virtual pulmonary rehabilitation and care for COPD and other chronic lung diseases, raised a $10 million Series A led by Allumia Ventures, according to Axios Pro. Home-based respiratory care is an area health plans and risk-bearing providers have been looking at for value-based contracts. (Link)
  6. Zai Lab Limited (NASD: ZLAB; HKEX: 9688) has entered a securities purchase agreement for a $250 million PIPE financing of American Depositary Shares. Zai Lab agreed to sell 11,340,000 ADSs at $22.04 each, for expected gross proceeds of about $250 million before fees. The financing is led by TCGX and includes participation from abrdn World Healthcare Fund, ADAR1 Capital Management, Balyasny Asset Management, Cormorant Asset Management, Frazier Life Sciences, RA Capital Management, RTW Investments, Wellington Management and others. Net proceeds are intended primarily to support continued global development of zocilurtatug pelitecan (zoci), the company’s DLL3-targeting antibody-drug conjugate. Leerink Partners is the exclusive placement agent. (Link)

IPOs:

  1. Lycia Therapeutics Prices Upsized $317.5 Million Initial Public Offering at $18 per Share Lycia Therapeutics, Inc. (NASD: LYCA), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing LYTAC degraders of disease-causing extracellular proteins, priced its upsized IPO of 17,640,000 shares at $18.00 per share, for expected gross proceeds of about $317.5 million. The company had originally marketed 14.7 million shares at $16–$18. Lead programs include LCA-0061 (an IgE degrader for food allergy) and LCA-0321 (an autoantibody degrader for Graves’ disease). Jefferies, TD Cowen, Evercore ISI and Guggenheim Securities are joint book-running managers. The platform is based on work by Nobel laureate Carolyn Bertozzi. (Link)
  2. Anthropic Files Public S-1 for Nasdaq IPO Under Ticker (NASD:ANT) Anthropic, the AI lab behind the Claude model family, has filed a public S-1 registration statement with the SEC for an initial public offering on Nasdaq under the ticker ANT. The Claude maker is targeting a valuation of $1.5–2 trillion, which would make it one of the largest IPOs on record and roughly double the $965 billion mark from its May funding round. First-half 2026 revenue was $16.3 billion, against about $4.6 billion for all of 2025. Third-quarter revenue reached $16.8 billion, up about 45% sequentially, and the company said it was profitable on an adjusted basis. The $80.7 billion first-half net loss is largely a non-cash charge tied to the rising valuation. (Link)
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Healthcare News, Deals, and Investments Update September 8th, 2026

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Healthcare Weekly News and Deals

  1. Oura Inc. has publicly filed its Form S-1 with the SEC for a Nasdaq listing under the ticker OURA, with existing investors reportedly seeking up to $3 billion at a valuation above $16 billion. The public file on 3 September replaces a 21 May confidential submission and attaches audited figures. Revenue reached $1.21 billion for the nine months to 30 June 2026, up 74% from $697.6 million; fiscal 2025 revenue was $907.9 million, up 123%. Gross margin improved to 55% from 51%. The $924.3 million net loss attributable to common stockholders is a $985.0 million deemed dividend on redeemable convertible preferred — a pre-IPO capital-structure entry, not operating deterioration. Last private mark was about $11 billion in October 2025. Hardware is still roughly 80% of revenue. (Link)
  2. Yellow Wood Partners to Buy Nestlé’s Mainstream Vitamins and Supplements Platform for $1 Billion Nestlé is keeping the premium practitioner-channel brands — Solgar and Pure Encapsulations — and selling the mass-market Holistic Health VMS book. That is how large strategics are now splitting consumer health: retain clinician-recommended margin, exit volume. Yellow Wood has run this carve-out playbook before. GLP-1-driven changes in nutrition behavior are reshuffling category economics; add-on activity is expected. (Link)
  3. Medtronic plc has committed about $700 million to Cornerstone Robotics and taken distribution rights to Cornerstone’s Sentire surgical system in selected markets outside the United States. Sentire will sit beside Hugo (Medtronic’s robotic-assisted surgery (RAS) system) rather than replace it. The system was built in-house, finished multi-specialty trials and received CE Mark in May 2026 for general, gynecologic, thoracic and urologic minimally invasive surgery, on top of China and Singapore approvals. Cornerstone runs three global R&D hubs, six business centers and a 30,000-square-meter plant in China; the console is dual-capable. Hugo is already in more than 35 countries, with procedures expected to exceed 50,000 this fiscal year. Rights apply only where Sentire is already market-approved. (Link)
  4. American Healthcare REIT Spends $696 Million on Eight Class A Senior Housing Communities, Launching a New LCB Operating Relationship The eight communities total 867 units across Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Georgia. They were carved from a ten-community sale; AHR walked the other two to a second buyer at its allocated basis — a structure owners should note when a single buyer will not take the whole book. The same week AHR closed six Kensington Senior Living communities for about $572 million, part of an eight-community, 745-unit portfolio priced near $873 million and described as well below replacement cost. Year-to-date investments now exceed $2 billion. (Link)
  5. LTC Properties Pays $200 Million for Four Minnesota SHOP Communities at a 7% Year-One Cap Rate The four assets are 453 independent living, assisted living and memory-care units with an average age of nine years. Unlevered IRR is guided to the low- to mid-teens. About $167 million of the check came from selling 13 Texas skilled-nursing centers — a rotation out of triple-net SNF into operator-aligned seniors housing, now 38% of annualized NOI. Operator is Lifespark. Published cap-rate and IRR targets are uncommon and give private owners a reference bid. (Link)
  6. Medtronic plc (NYSE: MDT) has agreed to invest up to $80 million in Israel’s Pi-Cardia Ltd., securing global distribution rights to the ShortCut device and an option to acquire the company for up to $210 million plus earn-outs. The check is staged into Rehovot; exclusive ShortCut distribution starts in 2027; the option is milestone-based. ShortCut is the first FDA-cleared leaflet-modification tool for valve-in-valve TAVR patients at risk of coronary obstruction, with successful leaflet splitting in every pivotal-trial patient. Structural Heart GM Jorie Soskin framed it as preparing for complex-anatomy TAVR demand rather than buying the company today. (Link)
  7. Cresco Labs Inc. (CSE: CL; OTCQX: CRLBF) has closed the purchase of PharmaCann Penn, LLC for $50 million in cash and a seller note, adding nine operating medical-marijuana dispensaries in Pennsylvania The deal is cash-free and debt-free against a normalized working-capital target and is described as immediately accretive to revenue, margin and cash flow. Pennsylvania is the second-largest U.S. medical cannabis market, with more than $1.1 billion of sales last year. The stores deepen an existing Mid-Atlantic retail bench rather than opening a new state. No earn-out was disclosed. (Link)
  8. Fortrea Holdings Inc. (NASD: FTRE) will buy Worldwide Clinical Trials’ Early Phase Services unit for about $45 million in cash. The package is a 200-bed GCP clinical pharmacology unit in San Antonio, a 60,000-square-foot GLP bioanalytical lab in Austin and a biospecimen store in Pflugerville. Fortrea picks up captive large- and small-molecule bioanalysis and more first-in-human beds. Worldwide keeps late-stage oncology, neuroscience, internal medicine and rare disease and will still place Phase I work through a services alliance. Close is subject to licenses and those agreements. Barclays and Mintz advised Fortrea; BroadOak and Greenberg Traurig advised Worldwide. (Link)
  9. Discovery’s Vitality Acquires Icario in a Reported R958 Million Deal, Building a Payer Platform Covering 30% of U.S. Health Plans The combined stack reaches 19 million members, including eight of the ten largest U.S. plans. The parties themselves did not disclose value; the R958 million figure is from South African press. Member engagement is now a Stars-and-risk-adjustment revenue lever rather than a wellness line item. The buyer is a non-U.S. strategic writing a check for scaled U.S. payer distribution — a class domestic sellers should not overlook. (Link)
  10. HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE: HCA) has sold Dominion Hospital in Falls Church, Virginia to New York-based senior care operator Hill Valley Healthcare for $25 million. The buyer, founded in 2018, runs more than 40 facilities across six states. This is its first behavioural-health asset and part of a push into Virginia. Dominion treats children, adolescents and adults, including eating-disorder and trauma programmes. HCA keeps 430 inpatient behavioural beds and 19 outpatient programmes in the state. (Link)
  11. PACS Group, Inc. (NYSE: PACS) has signed definitive agreements to acquire the operations of 32 Florida skilled nursing facilities leased from Omega Healthcare Investors, Inc. (NYSE: OHI).  Florida is the company’s 21st state. The package adds 4,049 licensed beds concentrated in the Tampa, St. Petersburg and Orlando corridor, with close expected in the fourth quarter. Chairman and CEO Jason Murray framed the state as demographically driven growth; shares rose 3.3% premarket. (Link)
  12. H.I.G. Capital has completed the acquisition of Outcomes One, the Orlando-based clinical network services and pharmacy technology provider led by Chief Executive Jude Dieterman. The Miami firm, with $75 billion under management, bought through an affiliate; terms were undisclosed. The asset pairs network reach with recurring software: a clinical network touching roughly 85% of U.S. pharmacies, more than 10 million interventions in 2025 across 130 million covered lives, and platforms including Rx30, Computer-Rx and Outcomes Premium. Managing Director Arjun Mohan framed the thesis as elevating the pharmacy’s role in care delivery. Customers span national chains, health systems, specialty and long-term care, and independents. (Link)
  13. CVC, through its Strategic Opportunities III platform, has agreed to invest in Unitex Textile Services LLC alongside the Potack family, taking the first outside equity in the healthcare linen group’s 100-year history.  Founded in 1922 and based in Elmsford, New York, Unitex is the leading outsourced healthcare textile manager in the Northeast, serving more than 5,000 hospitals, outpatient sites and nursing homes through an automated processing network. Chairman Michael, CEO Robert and President David Potack keep a significant stake and continue to run the company. Proceeds fund operations, commercial work, digital capability, greenfield sites and bolt-ons. The underwriting is scale, route density and long-tenured accounts. (Link)
  14. Labcorp (NYSE: LH) has acquired MLM Medical Labs, expanding its central-laboratory and biomarker network across the United States, Germany and South Africa.  Labcorp says that makes it the only independent central lab with a wholly owned network on four continents. MLM operates Africa’s first fully CAP-accredited central laboratory and adds biomarker and specialty testing for multinational trials. Labcorp employs about 71,000 people, supported more than 85% of FDA new-drug approvals in 2025 and ran more than 750 million tests. No price was disclosed. (Link)
  15. Bain Capital-backed LeanTaaS has acquired Aidin, the care transition platform founded and led by Russell Graney, to extend iQueue for Inpatient Flow through discharge and placement.  LeanTaaS is already in about 200 health systems and more than 1,200 facilities. Aidin serves 200-plus hospitals across roughly 20 systems and coordinates more than two million referrals a year through 21,000-plus post-acute providers. Published results: 0.86 days off average length of stay, placement time halved, and about $1.7 million of annual savings per hospital. Bain partner Paul Moskowitz framed the return as capturing both the avoided day and the freed bed. Terms undisclosed. (Link)
  16. Stryker (NYSE: SYK) has signed a definitive agreement to acquire privately held ZuriMED, developer of the commercialized FiberLocker System for rotator-cuff augmentation.  ZuriMED is a Zurich company out of ETH Zurich, the University of Zurich and Balgrist. FiberLocker is an FDA-cleared (510(k), late 2024) single-use system: a non-degradable polyester SpeedPatch PET felt plus a dedicated instrument that mechanically felts the patch into repaired cuff tissue. Published retear rates after cuff repair run from 24% to 94%; the device is indicated to reinforce suture or anchor repair where the soft tissue is weak. The parties will operate separately until close. (Link)
  17. Quva has acquired Central Admixture Pharmacy Services’ 503B product portfolio after CAPS, a B. Braun unit, exited 503B sterile compounding.  Named SKUs include cardioplegia, total parenteral nutrition and heparin. Quva runs more than 200,000 square feet of FDA-registered 503B plants in New Jersey and Texas and 100,000 square feet of forward distribution in Texas and Arizona, and already serves more than 3,500 U.S. hospitals. Selected products start later in 2026, with the rest over the following six months. Local CAPS 503B staff are being offered roles. (Link)
  18. VION Biosciences, based in Shaker Heights, Ohio, has closed its acquisition of Prolytix. The add-on brings regulated large-molecule bioanalytical and CMC work — PK, ADA and immunogenicity, biomarkers, method validation, release and stability — plus research reagents, plasma and coagulation proteins, IVD inputs and custom collection devices. Those lines sit next to CTL immune monitoring and Ansh Labs on a Brooke PE / LongWater / Twin Bridge platform. CEO Mark Thornton framed the gap as documentation-heavy services and workflow-critical reagents. (Link)
  19. Serent Capital-backed Aria Care Partners has acquired Precision Mobile Care, the Utah mobile dental provider led by Principal John Flanders.  The Overland Park platform already delivers dental, vision, audiology and podiatry plus insurance into skilled nursing facilities and has converted a ten-year insurance relationship into ownership. Precision serves thousands of residents in more than half of Utah’s SNFs with on-site preventive and restorative dental care. This is Aria’s third acquisition of 2026, after the February Sanford dental and vision platform in Georgia and Alabama. Aria partners with more than 3,500 facilities nationally; client-facing teams and schedules stay. (Link)
  20. Incline Equity Partners-backed West Physics Consulting, LLC has acquired Radiographic Testing Services, Inc., the Albany, New York medical physics provider.  West Physics, Atlanta-based and sponsor-backed since June, is on its ninth disclosed add-on. RTS, founded in 2011, covers nuclear medicine, diagnostic radiology, radiation oncology and Certified Radiation Equipment Safety Officer work across central New York. An Albany field office lets the platform meet New York requirements centrally and reach Boston and Philadelphia. CEO Dr. Geoffrey West cited local relationships and state regulatory familiarity. (Link)

Venture Deals and Other

  1. Noteus Partners has led a $90 million equity round in Scan.com with participation from Aviva (LSE: AV.), Concord Health Partners, YZR Capital and Oxford Capital, alongside $130 million of debt facilities from VerisFi Capital and Atempo Growth. vCombined capital is $220 million after revenue doubled to a $165 million annualised run-rate. The debt is earmarked for M&A and working capital in a U.S. imaging market where 85% of scans are still booked by fax or phone. Noteus GP Nathalie Bruls cited patient experience, provider connectivity and proprietary data; Concord’s James Olsen tied it to access and cost. More than 900,000 patients have used the network globally. (Link)
  2. Morgan Health has led a Series E of more than $125 million in Thyme Care at a valuation above $2 billion, joined by Humana Inc. (NYSE: HUM), CVS Health Ventures — the corporate arm of CVS Health Corporation (NYSE: CVS) — AlleyCorp, HealthQuest Capital, Foresite Capital, Concord Health Partners, Frist Cressey Ventures, Town Hall Ventures and a16z Bio + Health. The syndicate pairs two national payers with community-oncology, health-system and employer-benefit capital. Reach is 10.5 million people across all 50 states and more than $7 billion of oncology spend, with validated 5–10% reductions in total cost of care. The company reports profitability and positive free cash flow. Proceeds also capitalise Thyme Companies, a new parent building independent oncology businesses aimed at biosimilar adoption and trial accrual. Morgan Health CEO Dan Mendelson cited continued conviction in payer-side value delivery. (Link)
  3. Ultrahuman has raised $70 million — $65 million of equity and $5 million of debt — at a reported $365 million valuation, with Qualcomm Ventures, Labcorp, Alpha Wave, Blume Ventures, Nexus Venture Partners and Alteria Capital. The Bengaluru company says it has sold about 800,000 rings and is running at a $140 million revenue run-rate, targeting $200 million by January 2027. It currently uses Nordic Semiconductor silicon and is adding Qualcomm chips so more algorithms run on the ring rather than the phone or cloud. Part of the money funds a deeper link between ring physiology and Labcorp blood-testing data, plus expansion in India and the UAE. (Link)
  4. BVF Partners, L.P. has led an oversubscribed $60 million Series B in Superluminal Medicines with new investors Deep Track Capital and Perceptive Advisors joining existing backers RA Capital Management, Insight Partners, NVIDIA Corporation (NASD: NVDA), Catalio Capital Management, Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY), Cooley and Gaingels. The round funds the move from discovery platform to clinic. NVIDIA is the compute check; Lilly is both investor and GPCR collaboration partner. Proceeds take a selective, biased MC4R agonist into Phase 1 by year-end 2026 for rare genetic and hypothalamic obesity. BVF’s Harsha Paladugu cited differentiated small molecules against historically intractable GPCRs; RA Capital’s Nandita Shangari pointed to syndicate calibre as validation of platform translation. (Link)
  5. Elucid has closed an oversubscribed $55 million Series D with a new unnamed publicly traded medtech strategic investor joining IAG Capital Partners and Elevage Medical Technologies, the platform created by Patient Square Capital. The company raised after FDA clearance and reimbursement, not before. Total capital is about $185 million since 2009; valuation undisclosed. The new backer is Elucid’s fourth publicly traded strategic — an unusual concentration for software-only cardiovascular diagnostics. Plaque-IQ was cleared in October 2024 and has been reimbursable under CPT 75577 at a national average of about $1,012 per scan since January 2026. BioIntegrated FFR-CT remains in 510(k). Proceeds fund commercial expansion and clinical studies. (Link)
  6. Hi Rasmus has taken a $50 million minority growth-equity investment from Updata Partners. The Nashville ABA software company was founder-controlled and previously bootstrapped. It now serves about 1,000 organizations and 19.6 million client session hours a year and ranked No. 7 on the 2026 Inc. Regionals Southeast list on 1,069% two-year growth. Braden Snyder of Updata joins the board. No change of control; management says it does not plan another raise. (Link)
  7. EIT Pharma has closed an oversubscribed $35 million Series A led by Propel Bio Partners. EIT is taking lonafarnib, an investigational first-in-class oral therapy for chronic hepatitis D in patients already infected with hepatitis B, through FDA review. The company says it is the only oral candidate in late-stage CHD development and that the NDA has been accepted. Lonafarnib is designed for oral dosing and room-temperature storage. Good Ventures and Arrowtown joined. Proceeds fund continued FDA review, manufacturing and commercial readiness if approved, plus the rest of the infectious-disease pipeline. Safety and efficacy are not established. (Link)
  8. Labcorp Venture Fund, the strategic arm of Labcorp Holdings Inc. (NYSE: LH), has led a $32 million Series B in N-Power Medicine with continued participation from the Merck Global Health Innovation Fund of Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE: MRK), Innovatus Capital Partners and a leading US biotech investor. The Labcorp check is the second industry-leader investment in the Redwood City company after Merck GHI. The product is ProECA, which builds prospective, trial-grade external control arms from routine community cancer care and is meant to cut randomisation, sample size and timelines. The initial NSCLC programme runs across more than 40 community oncology sites and is already used by sponsors for early-phase and Phase 4 work. Colorectal and prostate platforms follow later this year. Proceeds scale the network and pharma partnerships. (Link)
  9. Chicago-based PatientIQ has closed a $30 million Series C led by Hughes & Company, with Health Enterprise Partners and August Capital. The outcomes platform now covers 870-plus healthcare organizations, 17 million patients and more than 70 million collected outcomes across 20-plus specialties and 50-plus EHR integrations, including Epic, Oracle Cerner and Athenahealth. It powers registries for AAOS, AANS and STS. Proceeds fund deeper specialty and health-system penetration, real-world evidence for device and life-science customers, and a direct-to-patient marketplace. Travis Hughes joins the board. (Link)
  10. Madrona and General Catalyst have led the close of NewDays’ seed round at $16 million, as the Seattle AI dementia care company launches in Nevada. The same pair co-led the original $7 million seed; this take-up brings the seed to $16 million total. The pitch is a staffing bottleneck: cognitive therapies work but depend on a small bench of trained clinicians. NewDays pairs monthly or twice-monthly telehealth visits with unlimited sessions with an AI companion, Sunny. Research presented at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in July showed patients outperforming historical decline curves by about 18 months of preserved function — on 24 patients. Nevada is the sixth state. (Link)

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Healthcare News, Deals, and Investments Update Feb 2nd, 2026

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  1. Boston Scientific (NYSE: BSX) completes $600M acquisition of Nalu Medical to deepen neuromodulation portfolio for chronic pain The deal adds Nalu’s miniaturized, battery‑free implantable pulse generator for spinal cord and peripheral nerve stimulation, wirelessly powered by an external wearable disc and controlled via smartphone, with an expected 18‑year service life. Nalu’s system, cleared initially by the FDA in 2019 and later for whole‑body MRI use, delivers neuromodulation for chronic neuropathic pain with capabilities comparable to larger IPGs. Boston Scientific projects Nalu revenue above $60 million in 2025 with more than 25% growth in 2026 and expects the transaction to become increasingly accretive to earnings after 2027. (Link)
  2. Laborie acquires JADA System for $465M, backed by Patricia Industries to strengthen its global maternal health and postpartum haemorrhage care portfolio The acquisition brings an FDA-cleared device for rapid control of abnormal postpartum uterine bleeding into Laborie’s comprehensive obstetrics portfolio spanning antepartum through neonatal care. JADA uses low-level vacuum to stimulate natural uterine contractions, helping stop postpartum haemorrhage quickly and effectively and has already been used in more than 136,000 mothers across over 20 countries, supported by multiple safety and effectiveness studies. Laborie will onboard over 90 primarily commercial team members as part of a long-term strategy to back innovations that improve maternal outcomes and support sustainable growth. (Link)
  3. Halozyme Therapeutics acquires Surf Bio for up to $400M to expand hyperconcentration capabilities in subcutaneous drug delivery The transaction, closed in late December 2025 and announced January 28, 2026, includes $300M upfront (subject to adjustments) and up to $100M in development/regulatory milestones. Surf Bio’s platform enables high-concentration formulation of monoclonal antibodies, small molecules, and biologics using spray drying, a novel protective excipient, and polymer-based surface tension reduction for protein stability and low-friction delivery via auto-injector. Complementing Halozyme’s Enhanze hyaluronidase and recent Elektrofi/Hypercon acquisition, the technology extends IP into the mid-2040s, opens non-exclusive partnerships across autoimmune, neurology, nephrology, cardiovascular, nucleic acids, and ADCs, and supports rapid home-administration innovations, positioning Halozyme for durable royalty growth and next-generation delivery leadership. (Link)
  4. Illumina (NASD: LMN) acquires SomaLogic and assets from Standard BioTools for $350 million plus milestones to expand proteomics and multiomics leadership The acquisition strengthens Illumina’s position in the fast-growing proteomics market by integrating SomaLogic’s data-driven protein analysis technologies with Illumina’s next-generation sequencing (NGS) and multiomics solutions. Customers will gain access to enhanced tools, including SomaScan assays, DRAGEN software, and Illumina Connected Multiomics, enabling large-scale, flexible, and cost-efficient analysis of complex biological data. The combination supports faster drug discovery and deeper insights into human health. Illumina will maintain continuity for existing SomaLogic customers while expanding global access to the unified platform, investing in scalable growth and innovation across its sequencing and proteomics ecosystems. (Link)
  5. Sword Health acquires Kaia Health in $285M transaction backed by General Catalyst, Khosla Ventures, Transformation Capital and Founders Fund to scale AI-first MSK and pulmonary care in the U.S. and Germany The transaction adds Kaia’s digital musculoskeletal and pulmonary programs and its coveted position in Germany’s reimbursed digital health pathway, giving access to more than 70 million publicly insured individuals. Sword plans to migrate Kaia’s U.S. members to its own AI Care platform, unifying client relationships while extending a wider range of AI-enabled remote services that blend automation with clinician oversight. The combined organization aims use of AI care manager agents to automate administrative tasks and support more accessible virtual care. (Link)
  6. Premise Health acquires Crossover Health, via its financial sponsors OMERS Private Equity, Ares Management, and Ares Capital Corporation BDC creating unified advanced primary and occupational care company The combined organization will operate nearly 900 onsite, nearsite and virtual wellness centers, serving more than 400 employers, unions, tribes and health plans across the U.S. Its integrated model spans advanced primary care, occupational health, behavioral health, care management and navigation, physical therapy and chiropractic, with Premise’s pharmacy services adding chronic condition support and virtual dispensing. Both companies will continue developing alternative payment models, including a primary‑care‑centered health plan, with leadership from both executive teams retained to drive a shared vision of scalable, team‑based primary care that lowers costs and improves outcomes. (Link)
  7. Spring Health to acquire Alma in deal backed by Generation Investment Management, Tiger Global, Thoma Bravo, Cigna Ventures, Optum Ventures, Insight Partners, Tusk Venture Partners, Primary Venture Partners, and Sound Ventures to build AI-enabled lifelong mental health platform and expand nationwide care access The acquisition unites two major digital mental health innovators, combining Spring Health’s AI-driven precision care platform with Alma’s strong national payer relationships and provider infrastructure. The deal will integrate advanced technology, data-informed personalization, and in-network clinician enablement to improve patient outcomes while easing administrative burdens. Both leverage shared resources to advance quality, accessibility, and value across the evolving mental healthcare ecosystem. (Link)
  8. Resonetics to acquire Resolution Medical in a Carlyle, GTCR and Arcline Investment Management–backed deal to expand neuromodulation and structural heart device capabilities The acquisition will add Resolution Medical’s integrated design, engineering and cleanroom manufacturing capabilities for complex Class II and III devices, significantly deepening Resonetics’ presence in neuromodulation, structural heart and interventional cardiology markets. More than 240 employees, including over 100 engineers, will join Resonetics, enabling it to support customers from early product design and NPI through high‑volume production on a larger global footprint. Both organizations emphasize continuity for existing customers while positioning the combined company as a more comprehensive development and manufacturing partner across the full medical device lifecycle. (Link)
  9. Kodiak Solutions acquires BESLER, via its financial sponsor TPG to strengthen revenue recovery and reimbursement capabilities The acquisition brings BESLER’s revenue integrity tools, including Transfer DRG underpayment detection software and managed reimbursement services, onto Kodiak’s existing analytics and automation platform for hospitals and medical practices. Kodiak aims to give health system CFOs deeper, more actionable insight into net revenue, benchmarking, and reimbursement performance while simplifying complex business office workflows. BESLER’s leadership and subject-matter experts, including former CEO Jonathan Besler, are joining Kodiak to help support more than 2,300 hospitals and 350,000 physicians, while founder Philip Besler retires after four decades building the firm. (Link)
  10. Nuwellis (NASD: NUWE) to acquire Rendiatech to expand real-time kidney function monitoring and advance cardiorenal care portfolio The acquisition advances Nuwellis’ move beyond fluid management into continuous renal diagnostics, enhancing its precision cardiorenal care capabilities. Rendiatech’s Clarity™ system provides automated, continuous urine-output monitoring, offering improved accuracy and efficiency over manual methods. The integration of this technology will support earlier kidney stress detection and data-driven clinical decisions in critical care. Nuwellis plans to use its existing commercial and clinical infrastructure to bring Rendiatech’s innovation to market without new sales channels. The transaction, approved by both companies’ boards, marks a key milestone in establishing a more comprehensive cardiorenal platform once customary closing conditions are met. (Link)
  11. Wisp acquires TBD Health to build women-focused national PrEP and sexual health enterprise and hybrid care platform The deal adds a 50‑state sexual health and diagnostics infrastructure, including routine STI/HIV testing, virtual clinical support and deep partnerships with hospital systems and public health organizations. TBD Health’s TelePrEP and diagnostics capabilities, already integrated with partners like Mount Sinai Health System, San Francisco AIDS Foundation and Planned Parenthood Direct, will underpin Wisp’s move beyond direct‑to‑consumer into enterprise and hybrid care models. Together, the companies plan to close major gaps in preventive sexual health—particularly for women—by offering turnkey PrEP and testing solutions that plug into existing clinical workflows and broaden access across consumer, employer and public health channels. (Link)
  12. NOCD acquires Rebound Health, leveraging Noto AI platform to scale virtual OCD and PTSD specialty care The combined organization will expand virtual, evidence-based therapy for OCD and trauma-related disorders nationwide using Noto, an AI-powered infrastructure that supports payer operations, member identification, enrolment, and clinical workflows. NOCD contributes a large, W‑2-employed therapist network delivering more than 1 million OCD sessions annually, supported by tools like AI-assisted notetaking, outcomes tracking, and peer support between visits. Clinical studies of NOCD’s virtual exposure and response prevention model show meaningful symptom reductions for children and teens, while peer interventions increase engagement, and Noto will now also be used to scale Rebound’s PTSD and complex PTSD services across the U.S. (Link)
  13. Premier Radiology Services to acquire National Radiology Solutions (NRAD) to strengthen nationwide teleradiology network and clinical coverage The merger combines two established teleradiology providers to create a stronger national network with enhanced clinical coverage and streamlined operations. By integrating technological infrastructure, administrative systems, and subspecialty expertise, the unified organization will deliver faster, more accurate diagnostic interpretations. NRAD’s team, including founder Robb Kolb, will join the combined company to ensure seamless service for existing clients. The partnership places emphasis on physician autonomy, innovation, and expanding access to high-quality radiology services. Together, the organizations aim to advance patient care standards and improve efficiency for outpatient healthcare providers across the United States. (Link)
  14. Choice Health at Home to acquire Cy-Fair Health Care and Alliant, via its financial sponsor Trive Capital to expand home health and hospice services across key Southwestern markets The acquisition builds on Choice Health at Home’s strategy to enhance integrated home-based care across key Southwestern markets. Both Cy-Fair Health Care in Texas and Alliant in Colorado bring strong clinical reputations and deep community roots, which will now be supported by Choice Health’s broader operational infrastructure and resources. The move strengthens continuity of care for patients and families, with existing staff retained and services uninterrupted. By combining expertise, technology, and compassionate clinical teams, the expanded organization will improve home health and hospice delivery while advancing Choice Health’s mission to provide accessible, patient-centered care across its seven-state network. (Link)
  15. ncgCARE to acquire Broadstep of North Carolina through Carolina Outreach to expand statewide behavioral health services The acquisition broadens ncgCARE’s community-based behavioral health network across eastern and southeastern North Carolina, reinforcing its commitment to accessible, high-quality mental health and substance use care. Broadstep’s existing staff, leadership, and programs will remain in place, ensuring continuity for patients and families. By integrating Broadstep’s operations into Carolina Outreach, ncgCARE will provide expanded operational, clinical, and compliance support to strengthen long-term sustainability and service delivery. The partnership emphasizes stability, quality, and local engagement while enhancing capacity to meet growing behavioral health needs in communities across Gastonia, Lumberton, Jacksonville, Supply, and Wilmington, North Carolina. (Link)

Venture and Other News  

  1. Vaxcyte prices $550M public offering at $50 per share to fund pneumococcal and infectious disease vaccine pipeline The offering includes 11,000,000 shares with a 30-day underwriter option for up to 1,650,000 additional shares, expecting gross proceeds of $550M (before discounts/expenses), closing February 2, 2026. Proceeds will support clinical advancement of lead next-generation pneumococcal conjugate vaccine VAX-31 (Phase 3 adult/Phase 2 infant), VAX-24, plus prophylactic programs for Group A Strep (VAX-A1) and Shigella (VAX-GI). Leveraging its XpressCF cell-free protein synthesis platform for high-fidelity conjugates, Vaxcyte aims to address serious bacterial diseases with broader, more effective immunizations, accelerating late-stage trials, manufacturing scale-up, and progress toward preventing unmet infectious threats. (Link)
  2. Veradermics and Eikon Therapeutics file for IPOs targeting up to $181M and $318M amid biotech market reopening Veradermics (NYSE: MANE) seeks approximately $181M to advance Phase III VDPHL01 (extended-release oral minoxidil) for pattern hair loss in men and women, supporting approval, commercialization, physician education, brand awareness, supply chain, and infrastructure in dermatology. Eikon Therapeutics (Nasdaq: EIKN), led by former Merck executive Roger Perlmutter, targets up to $318M (with overallotment) primarily for clinical progression of TLR7/8 agonists EIK1001 (melanoma) and EIK1003 (non-small cell lung cancer), plus selective PARP1 inhibitors and WRN helicase assets in challenging oncology indications. The January 2026 filings signal renewed investor confidence post-2025 slowdown, enabling late-stage advancement, pipeline expansion, and public-market capitalization for these high-potential biotechs. (Link)
  3. Cellares raises $257M in Series D round led by Eclipse and BlackRock with participation from T. Rowe Price, Gates Frontier, Duquesne Family Office, Intuitive Ventures, DC Global Ventures and DFJ Growth to scale global cell therapy manufacturing The new funding supports Cellares’ global expansion as it prepares for commercial-scale cell therapy production by 2027. The company will build new manufacturing facilities in the Netherlands and Japan, complementing sites in New Jersey and South San Francisco. Its automated “Cell Shuttle” system enables end-to-end cell therapy production, addressing industry bottlenecks through scalable, high-tech infrastructure. With increasing demand and regulatory validation, Cellares is positioning itself as a leading integrated developer and manufacturer supporting global biopharma partners, including Bristol Myers Squibb. The financing advances its mission to industrialize cell therapy and move toward a public listing. (Link)
  4. Tenpoint Therapeutics raises $235M from Janus Henderson, EQT Nexus, Hillhouse, British Business Bank, EQT Life Sciences, Sofinnova Partners, F-Prime, Eight Roads, Qiming Venture Partners USA, AdBio, Wille, and Hercules Capital to accelerate commercialization of YUVEZZI™ The financing strengthens Tenpoint Therapeutics’ position for the commercial launch of YUVEZZI™, the first FDA-approved dual-agent, once-daily eye drop for presbyopia. The funding includes an $85 million Series B round and a $150 million credit facility, providing the capital needed to scale manufacturing, distribution, and marketing. Tenpoint aims to meet the needs of millions affected by age-related vision decline while delivering a differentiated treatment backed by strong clinical data and safety performance. The company’s leadership is focused on driving YUVEZZI™’s successful rollout and expanding access to innovative ophthalmic solutions. (Link)
  5. Breakthru Medicine emerges from stealth with $60M Series A financing to advance disruptive cancer therapeutics The funding, supported by investors including Dave Morehead (Baylor University endowment), Fred Eshelman (Eshelman Ventures), and Mark Gergen, enables Breakthru Medicine to build its tumor-agnostic platform targeting hard-to-drug cancers through small molecules, next-generation antibody-drug conjugate payloads, and a novel molecular glue approach. The company prioritizes patient-first development by rigorously selecting breakthrough candidates early and eliminating non-viable programs. The capital accelerates pipeline progression and platform expansion to redefine therapeutic possibilities for oncology indications. (Link)
  6. TRexBio raises $50M from Janus Henderson Investors, Alexandria Venture Investments, Avego BioScience Capital, Eli Lilly, Johnson & Johnson Innovation JJDC, Pfizer Ventures and SV Health Investors to advance tissue-targeted Treg immunology pipeline The financing supports TRexBio’s ongoing clinical and preclinical programs focused on tissue-specific regulatory T cell therapies for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.. Leveraging its Deep Biology Platform, TRexBio maps tissue Treg behavior to uncover novel therapeutic targets. The investment underscores confidence in the company’s precision immunoregulatory approach aimed at delivering more effective, durable treatments for diseases such as atopic dermatitis and other inflammatory disorders. (Link)
  7. Prenosis secures $20M Series A led by PACE Healthcare Capital with UC Investments, UCI Health Ventures, Labcorp Venture Fund, GHIC, Illinois DCEO, and Carle Health, plus $20M BARDA contract to advance AI diagnostics and therapeutics The combined $40 million will drive Prenosis’ development of biology-based, AI-powered diagnostic and therapeutic tools for critical care conditions such as sepsis, ARDS, and acute kidney injury. The BARDA-funded program will include a pivotal clinical trial evaluating an AI-enabled steroid companion diagnostic for severe respiratory infections. These initiatives strengthen Prenosis’ mission to personalize treatment by combining advanced diagnostics with targeted therapeutics, marking a major step in improving outcomes for critically ill patients through precision care. (Link)
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Healthcare News, Deals, and Investments Update Jan 26th, 2026

LECO_Weekly-Healthcare-News_1-26-2026Download
  1. Winter Storm Fern Cripples Half the Country This Weekend
    • CNBC: $100B expected economic loss and damages from storm (Link) 
    • CNBC: Transportation Sec. Duffy says air travel will return to normal by Wednesday (Link) 
    • The Weather Channel: Winter Storm Fern Turns Deadly In Louisiana, Outages For Hundreds Of Thousands Vulnerable To Ice, Snow (Link) 
    • National Public Radio: As the winter storm rages, here’s what to know in your state(Link)
  2. GSK (NYSE:GSK) pays $2.2B to acquire Rapt Therapeutics (NASD:RAPT) and Food Allergy Antibody Ozureprubart GSK is acquiring Rapt Therapeutics for $58 per share, gaining global (ex‑China) rights to ozureprubart, an extended‑half‑life anti‑IgE antibody being studied as a 12‑weekly prophylactic treatment for food allergies. Unlike currently approved IgE inhibitors that require injections every 2–4 weeks, ozureprubart aims to offer sustained protection with less frequent dosing while targeting the same validated pathway as Xolair. The deal follows Rapt’s strategic pivot away from its CCR4 inhibitor program after clinical setbacks and positions ozureprubart for phase 2 readout in 2027 and a planned phase 3 program, backed by GSK’s global development and commercialization infrastructure. (Link)
  3. BioCryst (NASD: BCRX) acquires Astria Therapeutics (NASD:ATXS) in $700M deal to Build Comprehensive Hereditary Angioedema Treatment Platform The transaction adds Navenibart, a long-acting plasma kallikrein inhibitor in Phase 3, which is being developed as a prophylactic HAE treatment with every‑three or every‑six month dosing to improve patient convenience and attack control. BioCryst now pairs its existing oral therapy ORLADEYO with a potential injectable option to give clinicians more flexibility in tailoring care. The deal also brings STAR0310, an early atopic dermatitis program for which strategic options will be explored, and augments BioCryst’s leadership with Astria’s former CEO joining the board and a senior development leader taking charge of technical operations. (Link)
  4. Georgia ProtonCare Center, Inc. Files Chapter 11 to Facilitate Competitive Sale Process and Enters Into Asset Purchase Agreement With Emory Healthcare Georgia ProtonCare Center (GPCC), owner of Georgia’s only proton therapy cancer treatment facility in Midtown Atlanta, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy to facilitate a court-supervised sale process and ensure uninterrupted patient care. The company has signed an asset purchase agreement with Emory Healthcare (via Emory University Hospital Midtown) as the stalking horse bidder to acquire substantially all assets, with Emory clinicians already providing daily treatment at the center. GPCC aims to complete the competitive sale by Q2 2026, prioritizing seamless continuation of precision proton therapy services for cancer patients while operations continue as usual under court-approved funding. (Link)
  5. KidsChoice Announces Majority Investment from Aquitaine Capital to Support Growth and Clinical Excellence KidsChoice, an Oklahoma-based provider of clinic-centered autism and pediatric therapy services including ABA, speech, and occupational therapy, has secured a majority investment from women-owned private equity firm Aquitaine Capital to fuel expansion, enhance clinical excellence, and strengthen infrastructure. The partnership supports thoughtful growth through new clinic openings, strategic M&A, and complementary offerings while prioritizing individualized, outcomes-driven care for children and families. (Link)
  6. Community Health Systems Sells Crestwood Medical Center to Huntsville Hospital Health System in $450M Deal The transaction will transfer Crestwood Medical Center, a 180‑bed acute care hospital in Huntsville, Alabama, along with a freestanding emergency department in Harvest and multiple clinics and outpatient assets, to a regional nonprofit operator. Crestwood’s roughly 1,000 employees will continue normal operations with no planned changes to services or medical staff privileges during the transition. Huntsville Hospital Health System, already a major 14‑hospital network across northern Alabama and southern Tennessee, views the deal as a way to better coordinate local care as Huntsville’s population rapidly grows, while the seller continues its strategy of divesting assets to strengthen its financial position. (Link)
  7. BioStem Technologies (OTC: BSEM) and BioTissue sign Up to $40M Surgical and Wound Care Asset DealThe transaction adds BioTissue’s Neox and Clarix placental- and umbilical‑tissue allograft product lines, along with a national direct and independent sales force and key group purchasing organization contracts, giving BioStem an immediate presence in hospital inpatient and outpatient settings. The acquired surgical and wound care assets, which generated about $29 million in 2025 sales, broaden BioStem’s chronic and acute wound care portfolio and create entry into high‑value segments such as burns and soft‑tissue repair. Deal terms include an upfront $15 million cash payment plus up to $25 million in potential regulatory and commercial milestone payments. (Link)
  8. Harmony Healthcare IT acquires Blue Elm, via its financial sponsor Novacap to build Comprehensive MEDITECH Data Lifecycle Platform Harmony Healthcare IT has acquired Blue Elm to offer MEDITECH hospitals a single, end-to-end partner for data extraction, conversion, migration, archiving, optimization, and real-time access across all MEDITECH versions. The combined capabilities help hospitals retire costly legacy systems, strengthen data integrity, and improve accessibility as they upgrade or transition EHR platforms. By unifying services under one organization and relying on U.S.-based resources instead of offshore outsourcing, the company aims to shorten complex project timelines, enhance security and quality, and better support hospitals under pressure to improve care quality while reducing operating costs. (Link)
  9. PhaseWell Research acquires Bio Behavioral Health Partner, via its financial sponsor Shore Capital Partners to expand Community-Based Neuropsychiatric Clinical Trials The acquisition will strengthen PhaseWell’s national network of community clinical research sites focused on neurologic and psychiatric disorders. The collaboration aims to broaden patient access to neuropsychiatric trials by leveraging BBH’s experience in community-based studies and PhaseWell’s nationwide platform and infrastructure. Together, the organizations plan to support sponsors with reliable patient enrolment, strong operational execution, and high-quality data while advancing next-generation CNS therapeutics across complex therapeutic areas, including oncology, cardiovascular/metabolic conditions, and dermatology. (Link)
  10. Pair Team acquires Town Square to Advance AI-Enabled Community Care for Medicare and Medicaid Beneficiaries The acquisition combines an AI-driven medical group with a social care coordination platform to better integrate clinical, behavioral, and social services for underserved populations. Technology will orchestrate complex, cross-setting care tasks so human teams can concentrate on clinical decisions, hands-on support, and relationships with patients and local organizations. Town Square’s founder will lead network expansion and community partnerships within the new structure, which emphasizes responsible AI, robust outcomes measurement, and investment in community-based infrastructure to extend whole-person care to people historically excluded from the healthcare system. (Link)
  11. Aspen Surgical expands Infection Prevention Portfolio with acquisition of Ruhof Healthcare, via its financial sponsors Linden and Audax Private Equity The buyer is adding enzymatic detergents, cleaning verification tools, and automated and manual instrument and endoscope reprocessing solutions to deepen its presence in operating rooms, sterile processing, and endoscopy settings. Ruhof’s portfolio, including Endozime detergents, ScopeValet single-use consumables, CleanRead ATP contamination monitoring, and instrument refurbishment services, will bolster the SPD360 Performance Solutions platform and complement existing brands such as Symmetry, Bookwalter, and Precept. The transaction covers all Ruhof operations, brands, and product lines, with integration set to begin immediately and no near-term disruption expected for customers, suppliers, or employees. (Link)
  12. TridentCare acquires DispatchHealth Imaging Unit to Grow National Portable Diagnostics Network The acquisition adds a multistate mobile X‑ray and ultrasound operation that serves patients at home, in post‑acute facilities, and in correctional settings, expanding TridentCare’s reach and capacity. By integrating these imaging teams and customers into its national infrastructure, TridentCare aims to speed response times, improve scheduling flexibility, and deliver more consistent service quality for clinicians and patients. DispatchHealth will continue focusing on providing complex care in the home and will coordinate imaging through technology and partnerships so patients and providers experience seamless, integrated services. (Link)
  13. Morris & Dickson Completes Transaction to Acquire Prodigy Health Morris & Dickson (M&D), the nation’s largest independent wholesale and specialty pharmaceutical distributor, has completed its acquisition of Prodigy Health, a specialty pharmaceutical distribution and services company focused on plasma-derived therapies. The transaction expands M&D’s specialty portfolio, broadens access to plasma therapies for hospitals, clinics, infusion centers, and alternative care sites nationwide, and strengthens its independent platform for manufacturers through a compliance-first approach. (Link)
  14. Main Post Partners and HomeWell Leadership acquire HomeWell Franchising to Accelerate Senior In‑Home Care Growth The deal pairs a national non‑medical home care franchisor with a private equity firm experienced in franchising and consumer service brands, aiming to fuel the next phase of expansion. The partners emphasize a “partnership, not ownership” philosophy, focusing on close collaboration with franchisees and caregivers to scale services while preserving mission and culture. Building on several years of rapid revenue growth and record franchise development, the company plans to invest in tools, resources, and support that help local agencies grow and better serve seniors and homebound individuals in their communities. (Link)

Venture and Other News  

  1. Zarminali Paediatrics raises $110M in Series A funding led by Healthier Capital, with participation from General Catalyst, K2 HealthVentures, and Boston Children’s Hospital to expand integrated paediatric care footprint The company will use the new capital to scale its proprietary tech platform, enter additional states and open de novo clinics while continuing to acquire established paediatric groups. Its model centers on a single branded multispecialty practice that co-locates clinics with urgent care, directly employing both paediatricians and specialists to coordinate care across the full continuum outside the hospital. Since launching in 2024, Zarminali has rapidly expanded to 28 clinics in eight states and plans at least 15 new sites in 2026, while laying groundwork for future value-based arrangements and building analytics to track clinician performance and patient outcomes. (Link)
  2. Mendra launches with $82M Series A co-led by OrbiMed, 8VC, and 5AM Ventures, with participation from Lux Capital and Wing VC to advance AI-driven rare disease therapeutics Mendra will use the oversubscribed financing to acquire and develop an initial portfolio of high-potential rare disease assets while applying AI to speed patient identification, trial enrollment and global market access. The company is built to modernize how rare disease medicines are developed and commercialized so they reach underserved patients more efficiently worldwide. A veteran leadership team with deep experience in rare disease drug development, global commercialization and AI—drawn from organizations such as BioMarin, Modis Therapeutics, Escient Pharmaceuticals, Palantir and Bayer—will guide strategy across asset selection, clinical execution and business development. (Link)
  3. AnswersNow raises $40M in Series B funding led by HealthQuest Capital, with participation from Left Lane Capital and Owl Ventures to Scale AI-Enabled Virtual Autism Therapy The company will use the new capital to expand its platform, double clinical headcount, add senior leaders and launch new service lines to meet surging demand for autism support. Its AI-driven model pairs families across the U.S. with Master’s- and PhD-level BCBAs for targeted, parent-mediated virtual ABA, cutting weekly therapy time from 30+ hours to about 4–5 while sustaining strong clinical gains. Outcomes data show high family-reported improvements, substantial cost savings for payors and a consistently strong satisfaction score, with forthcoming research in 2026 intended to further validate clinical and economic impact. (Link)
  4. BrightInsight secures $13M investment from Eclipse, General Catalyst, Insight Partners, Mayo Clinic and New Leaf Venture Partners to scale its AI-enabled medication adherence platform The company will deploy the capital to expand its AI-enabled persistence and adherence solutions, including a co-developed Patient App used across multiple diseases and therapies worldwide. By leveraging real-world data and advanced analytics, the platform targets chronically low adherence rates, aiming to predict churn and trigger personalized interventions that keep patients on therapy. BrightInsight reports strong patient engagement and one-year retention across programs and plans to deepen its product roadmap, broaden disease and biopharma partnerships, and add support for caregivers and nurse educators to ease pressure on health systems. (Link)
  5. McKinsey & Co Released their Annual Healthcare Outlook Report. To remain competitive in 2026 and beyond, healthcare leaders must improve performance, embrace technology and rethink traditional care models (Link)
  6. IPO Watchlist
    • Once Upon a Farm — Organic children’s food company co-founded by Jennifer Garner, is targeting a valuation of up to $764.4 million in its upcoming U.S. IPO on the NYSE under the ticker OFRM. (Link)
    • Kallyope — New York City-based biotechnology company specializing in novel therapeutics targeting the gut-brain axis and neural circuits.
    • Kardium — Vancouver area based medical device company focused on cardiac electrophysiology solutions; develops advanced catheter-based systems for the diagnosis and minimally invasive treatment of atrial fibrillation.
    • Tenpoint Therapeutics — London, UK-headquartered (with U.S. operations in Seattle and Irvine) ophthalmic biotechnology company dedicated to age-related vision restoration therapies.
    • Vensure Employer Solutions — Chandler, AZ -based professional employer organization (PEO) and provider of human capital management (HCM) technology serving the healthcare and broader employer ecosystem.