Lumos Diagnostics Inc.’s stock shot up 162% Wednesday morning on news that it signed a pivotal commercial deal with Phase Scientific International Ltd to expand its reach into the U.S. market for its Febridx rapid, point-of-care test for bacterial infections.

Three months earlier than an expected update on a deal, Becton, Dickinson and Co. reported its biosciences and diagnostic solutions business will combine with Waters Corp. in a transaction valued at $17.5 billion. The resulting enterprise will operate under the Waters name and use its trading symbol (NYSE:WAT). Waters CEO Udit Batra will head the combined company.

Companies in the life sciences must tread carefully when it comes to the Anti-Kickback Statute, but a recent advisory opinion by the Office of Inspector General lends little clarity on the point.