After a particularly quiet start to 2023, it seems M&A deal making activity in the life science sectoris starting to pick up after two big pharmas announced deals in quick succession. Merck & Co. made the first announcement, purchasing Prometheus Biosciences and its bowel disease drug, PRA023, for US$10.8 B. Shortly after, GSK struck a deal to take over Bellus Health and its refractory chronic cough medicine, camlipixant, for US$2 B. These deals could mark the start of a busy year for M&A, as pharmas look to bolster their pipelines in time for approaching patent cliffs.