Philips, a giant of the medical systems and software industry, maintains its strategic direction with organic and external growth. That was illustrated in one recent four-month period in which the group made seven acquisitions, adding to its non-invasive diagnostics portfolio Electrical Geodesics and bolstering its steps in therapeutic medical devices with the acquisition of Spectranetics. But whatever the target, the same ground rules apply.

BTG's range of interventional oncology technologies puts it in an enviable position in R&D initiatives that require a holistic view across cancer and the best-targeted therapies. The UK-listed company will now take this to another level following an agreement with the Society of Interventional Oncology to explore the role of minimally invasive therapies in immuno-oncology.

DC Bead Lumi is designed to be loaded with doxorubicin or irinotecan to treat liver cancer while showing the treating physician where it is to improve control of transarterial chemoembolization procedures.