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Healthcare News, Deals, and Investments Update August 31st, 2026

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Healthcare Weekly News and Deals

  1. Sword Health to acquire OrangeDot, the parent company of Headspace, in an all-cash transaction reported between $200-$300 million. Sword Health, last valued at about $4 billion after raising just under $500 million, is buying OrangeDot for cash, with OrangeDot surviving as a wholly owned subsidiary. The $200–300 million range is a severe markdown against the roughly $3 billion at which Headspace and Ginger combined in 2021 and sits below the $321 million Headspace had raised. The deal follows Sword’s $285 million purchase of Kaia Health and extends its move from musculoskeletal care into behavioural health alongside its Mind and Dawn products. The Massachusetts filing dates from 22 July; the effective date is 14 September. (Link)
  2. American Healthcare REIT, Inc. (NYSE: AHR) has completed a $197 million acquisition of two Northern California senior housing communities from a joint venture between Affinius Capital and Alliance Residential Co. American Healthcare REIT has bought Sonrisa Senior Living in Roseville, rebranded Avella at Roseville, and The Watermark at Almaden, 545 units in total, for $197 million. Sonrisa alone traded at $94.1 million. The buyer has now completed roughly $1.4 billion of senior living acquisitions in 2026 and is pursuing a pipeline including $953 million under executed agreements, among them an $873 million Kensington portfolio. Senior housing occupancy reached 89.9% in the second quarter. Note the source headline wrongly casts the REIT as seller. (Link)
  3. Thomas Park Investments has acquired a four-property, $70 million medical outpatient portfolio from Stewart Investment Properties. The Annapolis healthcare real estate platform paid $70 million for 165,637 square feet across three Mid-Atlantic submarkets. The package is 1420 Beverly Road in McLean, a 47,185-square-foot building fully leased and anchored by MedStar Health; 6849 Old Dominion Drive in McLean, 69,330 square feet and 89% leased with Johns Hopkins Medicine as anchor; Children’s National at the former Takoma Theatre on Fourth Street NW in Washington, 24,140 square feet; and Luminis Health Easton Pavilion in Easton, Maryland, 24,982 square feet and fully leased to Luminis Health. Each asset is health-system anchored with remaining term and contractual rent growth. (Link)
  4. Ambulatory Partner Holdings has agreed to pay $54 million for a 60% stake in Atlas Surgery Center, the physician-owned neurosurgical ASC in Amherst, New York. Ambulatory Partner Holdings, an LLC owned equally by Rafael Axen, M.D., Matthew Jenkins and Ann Sariego, is buying 60% from seven of the nine physician members who together hold 90%.. Atlas, at 50 George Karl Boulevard, is a multispecialty Article 28 centre known for outpatient neurosurgery, angiograms, carotid stenting and complex spine, running on the order of 3,000 cases a year. Purchase price is equity-funded. New York’s Public Health and Health Planning Council has the establishment application on its 17 September agenda. (Link)
  5. The Federal Trade Commission has approved the final consent order clearing Ascension Health Alliance’s $3.9 billion acquisition of AmSurg LLC. The FTC finalised its order on 25 August, letting Ascension close a $3.9 billion purchase first agreed in mid-2025. Six centres go to SC Affiliates, a national ASC operator, and a seventh in Panama City to Florida Gastroenterology Center, a physician group already holding a minority stake. The divestitures cover Nashville, Panama City, Tulsa, Waco and Wichita, where the agency alleged reduced competition in gastroenterology, ophthalmology and orthopaedic outpatient procedures. Ascension must also give the FTC prior notice of ASC acquisitions in those metros for ten years. AmSurg operates more than 250 centres across 34 states. (Link)
  6. McKesson Corporation (NYSE: MCK) has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Precision Medicine Group, LLC from Blackstone (NYSE: BX) for approximately $2.25 billion. McKesson is paying roughly $2.25 billion for the Bethesda-based business after a multi-year Blackstone hold. The buyer is underwriting a services asset rather than a distribution one: biomarker intelligence, laboratory services, a global CRO, market access consulting and commercialisation support. That fits a portfolio McKesson has been reshaping by shedding non-core assets and concentrating capital in oncology and specialty, where Oncology & Multispecialty revenue rose 33% to $14.2 billion in fiscal first quarter 2026. The target will report inside that segment. Closing is subject to customary conditions and regulatory clearances. (Link)
  7. Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) to acquire Merida Biosciences for up to $2.875 billion in cash, adding a precision immunology platform aimed at pathogenic autoantibodies. Consideration is cash up to $2.875 billion, covering an undisclosed upfront payment and contingent milestones. Cambridge-based Merida is building biologics that selectively degrade disease-causing antibodies while sparing normal immune function. Lead program MER511 is in Phase 1 for Graves’ disease and thyroid eye disease, with initial data showing reductions in pathogenic thyroid-stimulating antibodies and a favourable safety profile. A preclinical program, MER769, targets food allergy, asthma and chronic spontaneous urticaria. Merida launched last year with a $121 million Series A co-led by Bain Capital Life Sciences, BVF Partners and Third Rock Ventures. Close is expected in the fourth quarter, subject to customary clearances. (Link)
  8. Argenx SE (Euronext & Nasdaq: ARGX) completed a $2.2 billion all-cash acquisition of Forte Biosciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: FBRX) at $77.00 per share. The close, announced 27 August, follows a cash tender that drew about 87% of Forte shares. The deal adds FB102, which has clinical proof-of-concept in vitiligo and celiac disease and potential application across multiple autoimmune indications, to argenx’s immunology portfolio. The original agreement was signed 27 July at a 40.5% premium to Forte’s then-close. The transaction extends a 2026 pattern of large-cap immunology buyers paying for de-risked, mechanism-differentiated assets rather than waiting for later-stage readouts. Forte is now a wholly owned subsidiary and will delist from Nasdaq. (Link)
  9. Advent International has signed a definitive agreement to acquire a majority stake in New Zealand Clinical Research Group in a transaction local press valued at roughly NZ$1 billion, with Waterman Capital and clinician shareholders rolling over. Advent, one of the largest global private equity firms, is buying majority control of NZCR Group, a physician-led clinical trials platform operating across New Zealand and Australia under the NZCR, CMAX, Optimal and Fusion brands. Advent’s own release did not print a price; BusinessDesk and the Australian Financial Review put the equity value at about NZ$1 billion. Waterman Capital, which held 52%, and clinician shareholders are keeping a significant minority. Close is targeted for the fourth quarter subject to regulatory approvals. Advent will partner with CEO Tony Moffatt to deepen sponsor relationships and extend the network internationally. (Link)
  10. Radiology Partners has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Everlight Radiology from UK private equity firm Livingbridge in a cross-border teleradiology transaction reported at roughly $1 billion (approximately A$1 billion, or about US$715 million). Livingbridge is exiting Everlight after taking majority control in 2021 for a reported US$344 million, having itself bought the asset from Intermediate Capital Group. Everlight’s 800-plus consultant radiologists across 40-plus countries read on a follow-the-sun basis, roughly 2.5 million exams a year for 340-plus clients, avoiding premium US night-shift rates. Radiology Partners intends to extend Mosaic Drafting AI across the acquired network. The 17 August edition covered Livingbridge putting the asset up for sale with Radiology Partners named as bidder; this is the signed agreement. Regulatory clearances pending. (Link)
  11. TowerBrook Capital Partners to acquire a majority stake in Korean-American women’s wellness brand Rael for 400 billion won ($290 million), buying out a shareholder register including SoftBank Ventures, Unilever Ventures, Lotte Shopping, Shinsegae and GS Retail. TowerBrook is paying 400 billion won, about $290 million, for majority control of Rael, according to people familiar with the matter. The sponsor is buying a consumer health asset with a proven digital channel: Rael became Amazon’s top-selling sanitary pad label on an organic feminine care proposition. The cap table it is taking out is unusually broad for a brand of this size, spanning venture investors SoftBank Ventures and Unilever Ventures alongside strategic Korean retail capital from Lotte Shopping, Shinsegae and GS Retail. The deal is a rare cross-border consumer exit for Korean sponsors in a market skewed toward beauty. (Link)
  12. BioXcel Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: BTAI) has filed Chapter 11 and entered a stalking-horse sale with Teva Pharmaceuticals at $57.5 million upfront with milestones up to $125 million. BioXcel and two OnkosXcel subsidiaries petitioned in Delaware on 27 August to run a court-supervised 363 sale of substantially all assets. Teva Pharmaceuticals International GmbH is the stalking-horse bidder for $57.5 million in cash, assumption of specified liabilities, and up to $67.5 million of contingent development payments — a ceiling of $125 million if milestones hit. The estate includes IGALMI, the approved dexmedetomidine sublingual film for agitation, and the pending BXCL501 at-home filing. Teva posted a $5.7 million good-faith deposit and framed the bid as consistent with its Pivot to Growth business-development screen. Higher bids can still emerge at auction. (Link)
  13. Beyond Air, Inc. (Nasdaq: XAIR) has agreed to sell its controlling stake in NeuroNOS Israel Ltd. to Tel Aviv-listed UNIVO Pharmaceutical Industries (TASE: UNVO) for equity, warrants and up to $32.5 million in milestones. Beyond Air is selling 5,000,000 ordinary shares, about 58% of NeuroNOS on a fully diluted basis. Consideration is UNIVO ordinary shares equal to 19.99% of UNIVO’s issued capital, five-year warrants on a further 19.99% of UNIVO awards exercisable at $0.01, plus up to $6.5 million in cash development milestones and up to $26 million in commercial milestones. NeuroNOS is developing blood-brain-barrier-crossing small molecules that regulate nitric oxide, including BA-102 for autism spectrum disorder and Alzheimer’s and BA-101 for glioblastoma, both still preclinical. The sale lets Beyond Air concentrate on its nitric-oxide device franchise. (Link)
  14. Savista, the Alpharetta-based healthcare operations and revenue cycle management company, has acquired ABW Medical, an ambulatory revenue cycle management provider serving federally qualified health centres, medical groups, MSOs and virtual care platforms. Savista is buying its way out of a single-segment concentration. Its existing base is acute: more than 800 clients across 49 states, an Epic-certified training workforce and cancer registry services built over 35 years. ABW Medical adds the non-acute end, including community health centres, FQHCs, rural providers and virtual care, plus preferred RCM partner status inside the athenahealth ecosystem. That diversifies EMR exposure away from Epic dependence and adds safety-net billing around Medicaid wraparound payments. Clients pick up Savista’s global delivery scale and eligibility, coding and A/R tooling. (Link)
  15. Eqwal Group has acquired Atlantic Pro Care, the Portland, Maine prosthetics and orthotics practice, extending the French patient-care network’s East Coast footprint. Eqwal is a global prosthetics and orthotics patient-care group that already owns Steeper in the UK and has been rolling up US clinics including United Prosthetics, American Orthopedics, Optech, South Beach Prosthetics and Prosthetic & Orthotic Group. Atlantic Pro Care, founded in 1993 by J.P. Donovan in Portland, fits custom devices for patients with upper- and lower-limb loss and spinal conditions and handles assessment, fabrication, fitting and rehab. The buyer framed the tuck-in as deepening US patient-care density rather than adding a product brand. No purchase price was published. (Link)
  16. Thurston Group, the Chicago healthcare-focused private equity firm, has made a platform investment in Pixel Health, a Holyoke, Massachusetts provider of IT consulting and managed services to hospitals and large physician groups. Thurston is entering healthcare IT services for the first time through Pixel Health, founded in 2001 and built into a multi-brand group spanning strategy and transformation consulting, managed IT services, and product sales and licensing. Managing partner Dan Davis framed the deal as consistent with the firm’s practice of backing leaders in high-growth healthcare verticals. The sponsor has installed Brad Mondschein, previously the company’s chief operating and legal officer, as chief executive. The investment case is outsourced IT for health systems that cannot staff internally against rising cybersecurity, interoperability and AI-integration complexity. (Link)
  17. BV Investment Partners-backed Imagenet has acquired Analytica Consulting, the California data engineering and artificial intelligence firm, in a transaction that closed on 21 August 2026. Imagenet is moving from transaction-processing BPO toward an end-to-end data and AI solutions position for payers. Analytica Consulting, founded in 2015, brings cloud data warehousing, automated ETL pipelines, enterprise visualisation, data science and governance. The commercial angle is in-situ modernisation: layering pipelines and machine learning models on top of health plans’ existing core systems rather than requiring replacement, and applying prescriptive models to denial trends across digital mailroom, claims adjudication and contact centre lines. The target retains its government, life sciences, manufacturing and education clients. (Link)
  18. Switchboard Health has acquired virtual musculoskeletal provider Livara Health, formerly SpineZone, and closed an oversubscribed equity round of more than $5 million backed by First Trust Capital Partners, Route 66 Ventures, A1 Health Ventures, Allumia Ventures and Martin Ventures. The acquisition converts Switchboard from a referral navigation software layer into a value-based care delivery provider. Livara, founded by orthopaedic spine surgeon Kamshad Raiszadeh, pairs orthopaedic physicians with physical therapists and psychosocial providers, and its outcomes were independently validated by the Validation Institute in 2024 at a 43% reduction in MSK spend, largely through avoided low-value surgery. Switchboard reports routed patient volume up 500% over nine months. This is its second acquisition in under a year after Conduce Health. The raise draws both companies’ existing investors plus new backers. (Link)
  19. WellStack, the Madison, Wisconsin healthcare data platform led by Chief Executive Rich Waller, has acquired DeLorean Artificial Intelligence, the predictive analytics and risk stratification company led by Chief Executive Severence MacLaughlin, to build an end-to-end healthcare decision intelligence platform.WellStack runs an agentic healthcare data platform with a managed data foundation, analytical studio and modular Decision Hubs. DeLorean AI adds continuous evaluation of clinical, claims and operational data to flag emerging risks, predict adverse events and recommend next actions. The combination targets the gap between data aggregation and intervention, moving customers from what happened to what to do about it. Client case studies cite improved patient adherence, reduced avoidable utilisation and revenue optimisation. MacLaughlin framed the merger as necessary for deep integration with health system data lakes and EMRs. (Link)
  20. ALIS, the Chicago-based senior living clinical and operational software platform, has acquired the Ella and elbi technology platforms from TapRoot Interventions & Solutions in its first acquisition. ALIS has grown organically from a clinical EHR into an operating system unifying CRM, clinical, billing, AI and business intelligence; Ella and elbi are its first bought capability. The platforms deliver point-of-care, AI-native guidance to frontline caregivers handling dementia and behavioural episodes, using non-pharmacological, person-centred interventions. The economics sit in two measurable outcomes senior living operators are judged on: fewer high-risk behavioural incidents and reduced psychotropic medication reliance, both increasingly tied to reimbursement and length of stay. The platforms also capture behavioural data for population health reporting. Announced at the buyer’s user conference. (Link)
  21. Globus Medical, Inc. (NYSE: GMED) has acquired Higgs Boson Health, the Durham, North Carolina digital healthcare experience company incubated out of Duke University, to build out its surgical intelligence pillar. What Globus is buying is a team of software developers and AI scientists rather than a revenue base. The acquirer frames the technology as part of a surgical intelligence pillar linking outcomes and analytics in a closed loop across the full episode of care. The stated long-term target is 95% good outcomes at ten years in musculoskeletal surgery, and management is treating patient and provider experience as the missing layer of that ecosystem. The deal follows a second quarter reported on 6 August in which sales grew and non-GAAP EPS guidance was raised. (Link)
  22. Ekoscan Integrity Group, the Eurazeo-backed French non-destructive testing group, has signed a definitive agreement to acquire the US-based NDT Digital business of Carestream Health, Inc., adding the INDUSTREX computed and digital radiography portfolio. Ekoscan is buying Carestream Health’s US NDT Digital unit — computed radiography systems, digital radiography detectors and imaging software under the INDUSTREX brand — plus the commercial, applications and service organisation in Rochester, New York. Radiographic imaging joins the buyer’s existing ultrasound and eddy-current lines, making a multi-method inspection platform for aerospace and defence, oil and gas and power generation. Carestream is narrowing to healthcare imaging. Ekoscan has been an active consolidator, backed by Eurazeo and EDF Pulse Ventures. Closing is expected in the fourth quarter of 2026. (Link)
  23. Golden State Dermatology, the physician-owned platform backed by Sorenson Capital and Yukon Partners, has acquired Summit Dermatology in Colorado Springs, its first move outside California. Golden State Dermatology has been a California story, roughly 45 locations and more than 125 providers built through steady practice tuck-ins with Sorenson Capital and Yukon Partners behind it. Summit Dermatology, led by board-certified dermatologists Kevin Whaley and Jeanne Osborn, is the first out-of-state platform entry and opens the Colorado market. The target offers medical and procedural dermatology including skin cancer screening and Mohs micrographic surgery, and retains its location, phone number and staff. Founder Ed Becker frames the strategy as building the leading comprehensive dermatology network across the Western US. (Link)
  24. Regent Surgical has added Integrated Surgical Center of Arizona, an Avondale multispecialty centre owned by IMS Care, AZ Heart Arrhythmia Associates and Valley GI Consultants, to its ambulatory surgery centre network. Regent Surgical, founded in 2001 and headquartered in Nashville, is a developer and operator of ambulatory surgery centres that has grown from 8 to 32 centres in eight years on site-neutral payment economics. The Arizona addition is a physician-partnership structure rather than an outright buyout: ISCA is owned by IMS Care, the state’s largest independent multispecialty physician group, cardiac electrophysiology group AZ Heart Arrhythmia Associates, and Valley GI Consultants. The strategic value is cardiac migration into outpatient settings across greater Phoenix. Regent also runs a joint venture with Cleveland Clinic. (Link)
  25. Great Point Partners-backed VetnCare has acquired Geary Veterinary Hospital, the Walnut Creek, California practice founded in 1979 and led by Dr. Gillian Hamilton and Dr. Erica Weiss. Great Point Partners, the Greenwich healthcare-only investor, backed VetnCare in 2022; Geary is the seventh acquisition since, and the second in roughly six weeks after Holistic Veterinary Care in Oakland on 14 July. The company has more than doubled in size in three years under that ownership. The model is regional density rather than national scale: VetnCare concentrates in Northern California, and Geary deepens the East Bay position with a practice offering wellness and preventive care, diagnostics and imaging, surgery, dental and senior pet care. (Link)
  26. Gravity 360, Inc., the Covington, Kentucky parent of Gravity Diagnostics, has acquired Med-Lake Laboratory, LLC, a CLIA-certified, CAP-accredited high-complexity clinical laboratory in Milledgeville, Georgia. Gravity 360 is building a regional laboratory platform across the southern United States, and Med-Lake gives it an operating base outside Kentucky for the first time. Founded in 2018, the target serves physician practices, skilled nursing facilities, behavioural health providers, judicial programmes and urgent care clinics across Georgia and Alabama, with a testing portfolio spanning clinical toxicology, blood and clinical chemistry, PCR infectious disease and reference services. Rather than consolidating volume into Kentucky, the buyer is retaining the Georgia laboratory, its team and its courier network as the foundation for further expansion. (Link)
  27. The Landes Group, the Dallas healthcare real estate investment firm, has completed its acquisition of Encore Medical Center in Bryant, Arkansas from Arkansas Heart Hospital and finalised a long-term lease with the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, financed with CGA Capital. The Landes Group has closed on a 108,055 square foot, 53-bed hospital and simultaneously locked in its tenant. UAMS gains capacity without deploying capital, paying annual rent reported at roughly $8.16 million with 2.1% escalation and a purchase option in ten years. That structure is the firm’s core strategy: single-tenant, net-leased healthcare assets where ownership is paired with financing that preserves provider capital. Longstanding financing partner CGA Capital supported the transaction, extending a relationship spanning more than $1.2 billion. Arkansas Heart Hospital operates the facility through 30 September, with UAMS assuming control on 1 October. (Link)
  28. Calera Capital-backed Cypress Health Partners has added Boston Sports Medicine’s ten outpatient clinics to the Bay State Physical Therapy network, effective 27 August. Cypress Health Partners, the Calera Capital-backed outpatient physical therapy platform operating across the Northeast, has partnered with Boston Sports Medicine, one of Greater Boston’s most established physical therapy providers. BSM’s ten outpatient clinics join the Bay State Physical Therapy network, expanding access across Massachusetts communities after more than 25 years of referral-base building. The transaction lands as the outpatient PT sector shifts from pure density plays toward a second phase of value creation focused on patient acquisition and reimbursement yield from existing clinical capacity. (Link)

Venture Deals and Other

  1. RA Capital has joined a $120 million Series C for AusperBio Therapeutics that will fund the Phase 3 registrational program for a functional hepatitis B candidate, taking capital raised since 2024 past $340 million.AusperBio, which operates from Hangzhou and California, closed the $120 million Series C on 31 August led by a new strategic investor, with RA Capital Management joining and existing backers HanKang Capital, Sherpa Capital, InnoPinnacle Fund, Qiming Venture Partners, YuanBio Venture Capital and CDH Investments returning. Proceeds fund the Phase 3 registrational program and commercialisation work for lead candidate AHB-137, advance next-generation candidate AHB-171, and support combination-therapy development for chronic hepatitis B. The round is the largest venture check in this week’s book and is a China-plus-US therapeutics financing rather than a services deal. (Link)
  2. The Gates Foundation has committed up to $35 million to ProFound Therapeutics, including $20 million initially, to find placental and serum protein targets for preeclampsia and eclampsia. ProFound Therapeutics uses its ProFoundry platform against the expanded human proteome. The Gates money funds discovery of novel proteins expressed in placenta and serum from women with preeclampsia and eclampsia, new drug targets and biomarkers, and a disease-specific AI tool. The initial $20 million is committed now; the balance is contingent on program progress. This is foundation capital rather than a priced venture round, and it sits beside rather than inside the company’s existing equity syndicate. Announced 27 August. (Link)
  3. TJ Parker, general partner at Matrix, has led a $26 million Series A in Metriport, with participation from ARTIS Ventures and Y Combinator, taking the open-source healthcare data infrastructure company to $28.4 million raised. Matrix led the round through TJ Parker, whose stated rationale is channel evidence: he sees dozens of consumer health companies each year and the strongest ones increasingly build on Metriport. The company was founded in 2022 by former AWS engineer Dima Goncharov and Colin Elsinga. The differentiator investors are underwriting is open-source infrastructure against legacy black-box interoperability tools, accessible via a single API, cloud warehouse connection or native EHR application. Customers include Amazon One Medical, Sollis Health and Color Health. Proceeds fund AI chart summarisation and agentic workflows for care teams. (Link)
  4. Define Ventures has led a $25 million Series B in Arintra, with participation from existing investors Peak XV Partners, Yale New Haven Health Center for Health Care Innovation, Endeavor Health Ventures, Y Combinator, Counterpart Ventures, Ten13 and Spider Capital. Define Ventures led the round, taking Arintra’s total funding to $51 million. The investment case rests on measurable throughput: the platform processes more than $5 billion in annual claim value for health systems representing over $50 billion in combined net patient revenue, and reports a 5.1% increase in compliant revenue capture, 32% cost reduction and 43% fewer coding-related denials. Endeavor Health, an early adopter, backed both the Series A and B. Partner Chirag Shah argued no prior solution had been comprehensive enough to move the bottom line. Proceeds fund enterprise expansion and deeper specialty coverage. (Link)
  5. Wing Venture Capital, Initialized Capital, Sozo Ventures, Hawktail, Lightspeed Venture Partners, Third Kind Venture Capital, Liquid 2 Ventures and SV Angel have backed Outer Bio with roughly $23 million as the Cambridge company exits stealth with its Yuna human-skin platform. What the syndicate is funding is a data asset rather than a clinical one: Yuna keeps full-thickness human skin alive and measurable for four weeks against roughly one week for conventional explants, generating longitudinal multi-omic data that improves the machine learning models over time. The commercial route is consumer skincare first, with partnership revenue already flowing. Founded in 2020 by chief executive Michael Polansky, with Stefani Germanotta on the board. The round size and the syndicate signal investors are underwriting a compounding biological dataset rather than a single product launch. (Link)
  6. Saga Ventures has led $22.5 million in seed and Series A funding for Hike Medical, joined by Indicator Ventures, Fifth Down Capital, RiverPark Ventures, strategic investor Orthofeet, Inc. and angels including Monaco chief executive Sam Blond and Jerod Mayo. Max Altman of Saga Ventures led the financing, and his stated thesis is vertical integration: owning the entire value chain end to end rather than layering software on a broken industry. The market economics justify it, with roughly $100 billion spent annually on orthotics, prosthetics and durable medical equipment and, per the company’s own research, 60 cents of every dollar lost to waste, remakes and fraud. Operating metrics already show remake rates cut from one in 15 to one in 400. Strategic investor and commercial partner Orthofeet participated. Proceeds fund hiring in San Francisco and manufacturing in Peoria, Illinois. (Link)
  7. Costanoa has led a $17 million Series A in Onos Health, joined by Flare Capital Partners and strategic investor CVS Health Ventures, the corporate venture arm of CVS Health Corporation (NYSE: CVS). The strategic money matters commercially: Aetna is already a customer, and the company says it is trusted by three of the six largest US health plans. Costanoa partner Amy Cheetham framed behavioural health as one of the largest and least understood categories in healthcare, with wide cost variation and low correlation to quality. Reported outcomes include a 35% improvement in clinical standard adherence and a 6%-plus cut in behavioural health programme costs within twelve months. Proceeds scale the decision-support tools payers use to manage behavioural benefit design and utilisation. (Link)
  8. Neotribe Ventures, Listen and Village Global have funded a $12 million round for Boston-based Legato, which has emerged from stealth to commercialise AI hearing-assistance glasses. Neotribe founder and managing director Kittu Kolluri framed the investment as a bet against the industry’s design orthodoxy, arguing that decades spent making hearing aids invisible has suppressed adoption and that positioning assistance as a style choice is the route to the market. The defensible asset is intellectual property: four granted patents and more than 20 pending applications. The competitive set is formidable, including EssilorLuxottica’s Nuance Audio and hearing features from Apple and Samsung. Proceeds fund a launch in the coming months and further development. (Link)
  9. August Global Partners has led a $10 million convertible note financing for Shape Memory Medical, joined by fellow new investor Taiwania Capital alongside existing backers HBM Healthcare Investments, Earlybird Venture Capital and WexMed II. The convertible structure defers valuation until clinical readouts land. Partner Davian Sim argued clinicians treating aortic aneurysms and dissections have long relied on repurposed materials, and identified an inflection point as two programmes advance. Proceeds fund follow-up in the AAA-SHAPE pivotal trial, fully enrolled at 180 patients across 48 centres, and the FLAGSHIP feasibility study. Both new investors also support Asia-Pacific expansion. HEAL Venture Lab assisted; the note sits ahead of those readouts rather than pricing the company now. (Link)
  10. Redesign Health has provided $2.25 million in seed funding to OmicsBank, the clinical data infrastructure company founded in 2025 by serial entrepreneurs Sumit Sinha and Vijay Goel.Redesign Health is the sole named backer of this seed round. Head of ventures Neil Patel was explicit about the underwriting order, saying the firm backed the founders first and the market second, citing five companies built between them and the relationship-intensive work of winning hospitals one at a time. The asset being capitalised is a deployed data network: infrastructure inside 90-plus hospitals and laboratories across South Asia, Southeast Asia and the Middle East, covering 12.5 million longitudinal records, 30 million DICOM images, six million pathology slides and 500,000 whole-genome sequences. Proceeds fund US and biopharma expansion. (Link)

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Healthcare News, Deals, and Investments Update May 18th, 2026

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  1. Boston Scientific Announces $1.5 billion Strategic Investment in MiRus LLC Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE: BSX) announced a $1.5 billion strategic investment for an approximately 34% equity stake in MiRus LLC, a privately held company developing proprietary biomaterials, implants, and procedural solutions for cardiovascular and orthopedic diseases. Announced May 18, 2026, the agreement includes an exclusive option to acquire MiRus’ SIEGEL™ Balloon Expandable TAVR system, with potential additional payments of up to $3 billion upon clinical and regulatory milestones. The nickel-free, rhenium-alloy valve features a smaller delivery sheath, precise placement, and promising early clinical results in the ongoing STAR pivotal trial. The investment strengthens Boston Scientific’s interventional cardiology portfolio in the rapidly growing aortic stenosis market. (Link)
  2. J.P. Morgan, KKR, BofA Securities, and Barclays led the $478.7 million initial public offering of GMR Solutions (NYSE: GMRS) at a revised price of $15 per share GMR Solutions (NYSE: GMRS), the largest provider of emergency medical services in the U.S., priced its IPO at $15 per share, raising $478.7 million. The offering was led by a major syndicate including J.P. Morgan and KKR, with the latter also providing a $500 million concurrent private placement to bolster the company’s balance sheet. GMR Solutions plans to use the IPO proceeds primarily to pay down its existing debt. Despite the offering price being lowered from initial expectations, the IPO values the company at approximately $3.4 billion. The deal highlights significant institutional interest in the stabilization and growth potential of essential emergency and transport healthcare services. (Link)
  3. Prestige Consumer Healthcare (NYSE:PBH) Announces Acquisition of LaCorium Health Prestige Consumer Healthcare Inc. has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire LaCorium Health, a leading Australian platform in therapeutic skin care, lip, foot, and skin treatments. Announced May 13–14, 2026 alongside fiscal results, the approximately $150 million cash deal adds a high-growth, asset-light international OTC portfolio with strong market positions and expected double-digit revenue growth. The acquisition enhances Prestige’s dermatological offerings and geographic diversification. (Link)
  4. Lumexa Imaging (NASD: LMRI) executed its growth strategy by adding four new centers through joint ventures with University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) and Advocate Health Lumexa Imaging the addition of four new locations in 2026, advancing its strategy to expand in high-growth markets via strategic partnerships. The expansion includes entry into the Pennsylvania market through a joint venture with the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) and further growth in the Southeast with Advocate Health. These additions, consisting of two acquisitions and two de novo centers, bring Lumexa’s total to over 190 outpatient imaging centers. The company leverages these joint ventures for capital efficiency and repeatability, focusing on the sustained shift toward outpatient, lower-cost sites of care driven by an aging population. (Link)
  5. Coastal Medical Transportation Systems Acquires Alert Ambulance to Expand New England Regional Care Network Coastal Medical Transportation Systems (CMTS), a leading privately owned medical transportation provider in New England, has completed the acquisition of Alert Ambulance Service. Announced May 18, 2026, the deal further strengthens CMTS’s position as one of the largest and most comprehensive ambulance and medical transportation providers in the region, following its prior integration of Fallon and Lifeline Ambulance Services. The acquisition expands geographic coverage across Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island, increases fleet size to over 325 vehicles, and grows the combined workforce to nearly 1,500 clinicians and support staff. (Link)
  6. Wellgistics Health (NASD: WGRX) Accelerates Digital Health Expansion with Planned Acquisition of WellCare Today Wellgistics Health, Inc. announced a non-binding letter of intent to acquire WellCare Today, a remote monitoring company specializing in RPM, RTM, and CCM programs powered by Samsung Galaxy Watch technology. Announced May 14, 2026, the proposed ~$15 million transaction (including $3 million cash and performance-based earnout in preferred stock) will integrate WellCare Today’s HealthAssist® platform with Wellgistics’ MSO pilot through Kare Clinicals and its network of over 6,500 independent pharmacies. The combination aims to enhance patient engagement, medication adherence, chronic care management, and reimbursement opportunities through wearable-enabled remote monitoring. (Link)
  7. Lorient Capital entered a strategic growth partnership with PeterMD to accelerate the national expansion of its proactive Medicine 3.0 healthcare platform Lorient Capital, a private equity firm exclusively focused on healthcare, has made a strategic investment in PeterMD to scale its personalized “Medicine 3.0” platform. PeterMD specializes in precision medicine, offering customized hormone health, longevity, and sexual wellness treatments through advanced diagnostics and proactive care. Lorient Capital is deploying capital from its $500 million Healthcare Fund III to fuel PeterMD’s national growth, aiming to transform the traditional reactive healthcare model. The partnership focuses on enhancing clinical outcomes and operational efficiency as PeterMD seeks to expand its footprint and bring precision-based integrated medicine to a broader national patient base. (Link)
  8. Blackstone and KKR & Co. Inc. reached a restructuring deal to take over the dental firm Affordable Care after slashing its total debt by 70% Direct lenders Blackstone and KKR are set to take control of Affordable Care, one of the largest U.S. dental services providers, following a major debt restructuring. The deal involves the lenders in a $1.4 billion private credit structure swapping their debt for equity, effectively slashing the dental firm’s debt load by approximately 70%. This restructuring provides Affordable Care with a significantly improved balance sheet to manage its extensive network of dental practices. The move underscores the increasing trend of major private credit lenders like Blackstone and KKR transitioning from creditors to equity owners to stabilize and preserve value in distressed healthcare portfolios. (Link)
  9. Quince Therapeutics (NASDAQ: QNCX)  Acquires Orphai Therapeutics and Raises up to $187 Million in Private Placement to Advance Pulmonary Pipeline Quince Therapeutics, Inc. announced the acquisition of Orphai Therapeutics, bringing in LAM-001, an inhaled formulation of rapamycin (sirolimus) for rare pulmonary diseases including pulmonary hypertension associated with interstitial lung disease (PH-ILD) and bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS). Concurrently, Quince entered a private placement to raise up to $187 million ($115 million upfront + up to $72 million from warrants), led by Balyasny Asset Management with participation from a strong syndicate of healthcare investors. The combined proceeds are expected to fund operations through the end of 2028 and support multiple clinical milestones, including Phase 2 data readouts in 2027 and 2028.
  10. Orthopaedic Specialty Group and OrthoConnecticut Merge to Create Statewide Physician-Led Platform Powered by HOPCo Technology Partnership Orthopaedic Specialty Group (OSG) and OrthoConnecticut have officially merged, creating a dominant, physician-led musculoskeletal (MSK) care platform across Connecticut. The merger is bolstered by a strategic partnership with Healthcare Outcomes Performance Company (HOPCo), the global leader in MSK value-based care. While the organizations merge their clinical networks to improve patient access, HOPCo provides the digital infrastructure, including advanced analytics and care management tools, to optimize outcomes and reduce total care costs. This collaboration allows the unified practice to scale thoughtfully while preserving clinical autonomy and delivering high-quality orthopedic services closer to home for patients throughout the Connecticut. (Link)
  11. Sweetser merged with Common Ties Mental Health Services to create Maine’s largest provider of Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic services Common Ties Mental Health Services, based in Lewiston, has officially merged with Sweetser to create a robust behavioral health network in Maine. This merger establishes Sweetser as the state’s largest provider of Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) services, integrating Common Ties’ regional expertise into Sweetser’s broad statewide platform. The investment focuses on streamlining mental health delivery, expanding free community training, and increasing access to specialized behavioral health services. By consolidating resources, the combined entity aims to build a more sustainable and accessible care model to address the rising mental health needs across Maine’s diverse and often underserved communities. (Link)
  12. Gryphon Investors-backed LEARN Behavioral acquired Little Leaves Behavioral Services from FullBloom, a portfolio company of American Securities LEARN Behavioral, a leading autism therapy provider backed by Gryphon Investors, has acquired Little Leaves Behavioral Services from FullBloom. FullBloom is a portfolio company of American Securities and sold the division to refocus on its core educational services. Little Leaves operates 18 early-intervention centers across Maryland, Virginia, and Florida, which will now join LEARN’s extensive national network. This acquisition allows LEARN Behavioral to expand its density in the Mid-Atlantic and establish a larger presence in the Florida market. The deal represents a significant consolidation within the ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) sector, focusing on scaling early-intervention services for children with autism. (Link)
  13. Arcadea Group expanded its mission-critical software presence in Brazil through the acquisition of hemotherapy and hospital software provider Sofis Arcadea Group, a long-term investor in high-quality software firms, has acquired Sofis, a Rio de Janeiro-based provider of healthcare software. Sofis specializes in mission-critical solutions for blood bank management (hemotherapy) and hospital ERP systems, serving over 300 institutions across Brazil. This acquisition marks Arcadea’s fourth investment in the Brazilian healthcare technology market. Arcadea plans to leverage its permanent capital base to support Sofis’ long-term product development and international expansion. By transitioning from a founder-owned model to one backed by Arcadea’s global resources, Sofis aims to modernize its platform and deepen its penetration into the complex Latin American healthcare technology landscape. (Link)
  14. Iterative Health Acquires Cardiology Research Sites from NextStage Clinical Research Iterative Health, a healthcare technology and services company focused on accelerating clinical research, has acquired three cardiology research sites from NextStage Clinical Research in Texas (Beaumont, Port Arthur, and Waco). Announced on May 14, 2026, with Bourne Partners serving as financial advisor, the deal expands Iterative Health’s elite site network and strengthens its capabilities in cardiovascular research — a therapeutic area affecting nearly half of U.S. adults. The sites bring experienced teams, strong community provider connections, and an active trial portfolio, enhancing patient access to innovative therapies while providing sponsors with high-performing, real-world research centers. (Link)
  15. HealthScape Advisors Acquires PayerAlly to Strengthen Pharmacy Benefit Management Capabilities HealthScape Advisors, a leading payer advisory firm and a Chartis company, has acquired PayerAlly, an independent pharmacy consulting firm specializing in pharmacy benefit management (PBM) strategy, procurement, and optimization. Announced May 12, 2026 (with coverage extending through mid-May), the deal enhances HealthScape’s ability to help health plans and employers address rapidly rising prescription drug costs through integrated, clinically informed total cost-of-care solutions. PayerAlly’s expertise in PBM strategy complements HealthScape’s broader payer advisory platform, supporting more effective management of one of healthcare’s fastest-growing expense categories. (Link)
  16. NeuroVision Acquires Durin Life Sciences to Advance Neurodegenerative Diagnostics NeuroVision, a diagnostics company developing early detection tools for Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases, has acquired Durin Life Sciences, a fellow diagnostics developer. Announced May 15, 2026, the deal adds Durin’s blood-based Duritect™ tests for early detection and monitoring of Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and ALS. The combination accelerates NeuroVision’s platform for earlier, more accessible diagnosis and disease management, addressing critical gaps in neurodegenerative care. (Link)
  17. IKS Health Acquires ARAI Solutions to Accelerate Agentic AI Capabilities IKS Health, a global leader in care enablement and AI-driven clinical solutions, has acquired ARAI Solutions, a specialized AI management and technology company focused on biomedical knowledge graphs and clinical reasoning infrastructure. Announced May 13–14, 2026, the deal enhances IKS Health’s ability to build proprietary small language models and agentic AI systems for clinical, operational, and revenue cycle workflows. ARAI’s ontology layer and applied research expertise will improve the reliability, auditability, and efficiency of IKS’s AI platforms serving health systems nationwide. (Link)
  18. Signant Health Acquires Ametris to Create End-to-End eCOA and Digital Outcome Measures Platform Signant Health, a leading evidence generation company for clinical trials, has acquired Ametris (formerly ActiGraph), a global digital health solutions provider specializing in wearable-derived clinical outcome measures. The deal integrates Signant’s eCOA (electronic Clinical Outcome Assessment) solutions with Ametris’ validated sensor-based technologies for objective measurement of physical activity and function. The combined platform will deliver multimodal evidence—patient-reported outcomes alongside continuous real-world data—simplifying complex trials, accelerating insights, and strengthening regulatory submissions, particularly in CNS and other therapeutic areas. (Link)
  19. iSpecimen Inc. (NASD: ISPC) Secures $2.5 Million Private Placement to Support Operations Amid 89% Annual Stock Decline iSpecimen Inc. finalized a $2.5 million private placement on May 11, 2026, to bolster working capital. The biospecimen marketplace provider, currently valued at $3.39 million, has seen its share price plummet 89% over the past year to $4.57. This funding follows a $5.5 million raise in late 2025, aimed at mitigating rapid cash burn. iSpecimen, which connects medical researchers with specimen providers, will use the proceeds for general corporate purposes as it navigates significant financial challenges and seeks to stabilize its market position. (Link)
  20. Blue Sea Capital supported One Physics in its strategic acquisition and partnership with Petrone Associates to expand its Northeast clinical services footprint One Physics, the largest outsourced medical physics services company in North America, has announced its 22nd acquisition with the addition of New York-based Petrone Associates. This strategic move, backed by growth-oriented private equity firm Blue Sea Capital, significantly strengthens One Physics’ presence in the New York City metropolitan market and Northern New Jersey. The partnership leverages One Physics’ national scale and Petrone’s established clinical reputation to provide comprehensive diagnostic and therapy medical physics, radiation safety, and dosimetry services. Blue Sea Capital, managing over $1.5 billion in assets, remains committed to accelerating One Physics’ industry leadership through continued regional consolidation. (Link)

Venture Deals and Other

  1. Sound Ventures, Alumni Ventures, Link Ventures, Redesign Health, and RRE Ventures invested $17 million in Anomaly Insights to address healthcare payer-provider information asymmetry. Anomaly Insights, an AI-powered payer intelligence firm, secured $17 million in funding led by Sound Ventures to combat the informational gap between healthcare payers and providers. The investment includes participation from RRE Ventures and Redesign Health, focusing on Anomaly’s real-time AI platform that identifies and corrects billing errors and payment inaccuracies. The company aims to reduce the massive administrative waste in the U.S. healthcare system by providing transparency in the claims process. This new capital will be used to enhance Anomaly’s machine learning models and scale its solutions across larger health systems and insurance networks to streamline payment cycles. (Link)
  2. McKesson Ventures, FCA Venture Partners, Sanofi Ventures, and AIX Ventures led a $26 million Series A for Branchlab to scale its AI-driven biopharma commercialization platform Branchlab raised $26 million in a Series A round led by McKesson Ventures to accelerate the growth of its Pathwai™ platform. The round, which included corporate venture backing from Sanofi Ventures, brings Branchlab’s total funding to $35 million. The company uses privacy-first AI to optimize the patient journey and enhance pharmaceutical commercialization, reporting a 70% increase in patient activation efficiency. Branchlab intends to use the capital to expand its engineering and data science teams in New York and Colorado. By providing real-time insights to biopharma brands, Branchlab aims to make pharmaceutical marketing more effective and patient-centric through advanced data analytics. (Link)
  3. AIX Ventures led a $2 million pre-Seed funding round for Chromie Health to develop its autonomous AI-powered hospital workforce management platform Chromie Health, a New York-based startup, secured $2 million in pre-Seed funding led by AIX Ventures to tackle the hospital staffing crisis. The company develops autonomous AI agents that automate complex administrative tasks and workforce scheduling without requiring deep IT integration. Chromie Health’s platform is designed to alleviate the burnout of clinical staff by handling the logistics of hospital operations through intelligent automation. The investment will support the development of additional “digital agents” capable of reasoning through clinical context and staffing needs. This seed capital positions Chromie Health to pilot its solutions across more health systems seeking to modernize their operational efficiency. (Link)
  4. Blueprint Equity, Villain Capital, Z21 Ventures, and Bienville Capital led a $14 million growth funding round for pediatric-focused AI operating system Develo Develo, an AI-native operating system for pediatric practices, raised $14 million in a funding round led by Blueprint Equity. The platform integrates clinical workflows, billing, and parent engagement into a single AI-driven ecosystem, currently serving hundreds of providers across 25 states. The capital will be used to accelerate the development of specialized AI tools, including automated charge capture and AI-assisted scribing for pediatricians. Develo aims to reduce the administrative burden that leads to physician burnout while improving the financial performance of independent pediatric practices. The investment highlights a growing trend toward specialty-specific AI platforms that address unique clinical and operational workflows. (Link)
  5. Thrive Capital, General Catalyst, Accel, Bain Capital Ventures, Redpoint, BoxGroup, and Pear VC backed Forus with $160 million to build its AI-powered pharmaceutical delivery network Forus, formerly known as Tandem, raised $160 million in a major funding round backed by top-tier venture firms including Thrive Capital and General Catalyst. The company is building an AI-powered infrastructure that connects doctors, pharmacies, and biopharma companies to streamline the drug fulfillment process. Forus automates the “last-mile” clinical steps, such as insurance authorizations, to ensure patients receive treatments faster. With five of the top ten global biopharma companies already utilizing the network, Forus plans to use the investment to expand its nationwide reach and further integrate its AI layer into existing physician and pharmacy workflows to eliminate treatment delays. (Link)
  6. Uncork Capital, Frist Cressey Ventures, Moxxie Ventures, and Coalition Operators provided $11.6 million in Seed funding for the launch of Knit Health’s clinical behavior AI Knit Health, a spin-out from UC Berkeley, launched with $11.6 million in Seed funding co-led by Uncork Capital and Frist Cressey Ventures. The company is developing a Large Clinical Behavior Model (LCBM) trained on real-world clinician decisions across 30 U.S. health systems. Knit Health’s AI agents are designed to handle triage, patient flow, and care coordination by learning from collective clinical experience rather than just static text. The funding will be used to scale its foundational intelligence layer and deploy AI agents that assist in high-stakes hospital environments. This investment reflects a shift toward “Action AI” that can reason and perform complex tasks in clinical settings. (Link)
  7. Salesforce Ventures, Echo Health Ventures, Susa Ventures, Matrix Partners, and HC9 Ventures raised $17.5 million in Series A funding for Optura’s AI governance platform Optura, a Nashville-based healthcare AI governance platform, secured $17.5 million in Series A funding led by Salesforce Ventures. The investment, which brings Optura’s total funding to $25 million, will support the expansion of its “Return on AI Investment” (ROAI) platform. Optura helps enterprise healthcare organizations, such as Independence Blue Cross, map fragmented data and measure the efficacy of their AI agents. The capital will be used to scale partnerships with LLM providers and grow its engineering teams. By providing a unified knowledge layer, Optura enables healthcare leaders to prioritize AI use cases based on actual operational readiness and projected business value. (Link)
  8. Norwest, Primary, Next Ventures, Constellation, and Scrub Capital led a $25 million financing round for Tokaido Health to launch its AI medication steerage platform. Tokaido Health emerged from stealth with $25 million in funding led by Norwest and Primary to address skyrocketing pharmacy costs for employers. The platform utilizes AI and behavioral economics to identify same-or-better medications that cost less, steering members toward high-value options like biosimilars. Tokaido layers on top of existing PBM stacks, allowing for a seamless integration without plan redesigns. The investment will be used to scale its concierge-style member outreach and expand its clinical reasoning engine. By focusing on site-of-care steerage and polypharmacy reconciliation, Tokaido aims to eliminate billions in wasted drug spending while improving the patient experience. (Link)
  9. Andera Partners, American Century Investments, Clarevia Ventures, Time BioVentures, View Ventures, Cadence Healthcare Ventures, and Anduril Investors led a $20 million Series D for Rivermark Medical Rivermark Medical, a urology-focused medical device company, raised $20 million in Series D funding led by Andera Partners. The financing will support the ongoing RAPID III pivotal clinical trial for the FloStent™ System, a non-surgical treatment for men with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The investment syndicate includes American Century Investments and Time BioVentures, focusing on bringing this reversible, office-based therapy to market. The FloStent is designed to be easily adjustable and tissue-preserving, offering a first-line alternative to more invasive surgical procedures. The capital will also be used to prepare for a U.S. commercial launch following expected regulatory approval. (Link)
  10. Aulis Capital led a $13.4 million Seed funding round for Shyld AI to accelerate the deployment of its autonomous AI-driven infection control solutions Shyld AI, a healthcare technology company, secured $13.4 million in Seed funding led by Aulis Capital to expand its active intelligence solutions for hospital facilities. Shyld AI develops autonomous physical agents that use AI and UV disinfection to reduce environmental contamination in high-risk areas like operating rooms. The funding will accelerate deployments across U.S. health systems and support the company’s expansion into regulated pharmaceutical manufacturing environments. By streamlining infection control and compliance without adding to the workload of hospital staff, Shyld AI aims to improve patient safety and operational efficiency. The investment marks a significant milestone in the adoption of autonomous hygiene agents in healthcare. (Link)

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