A majority of life science firms are standing on the edge of the patent cliff and their drug pipelines are experiencing acute scarcity. This is making them seek out partners for mergers & acquisitions (M&A).

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• What are the key mergers & acquisitions of Q1 2013?

Furthermore, the urge to strengthen their existing product portfolios and enter into new markets has fuelled what can be called the mergers & acquisitions (M&A) galore during the first quarter of 2013. The folllowing have been the 'Top 20 Global M&A Transactions in 2012'.