Goldman Sachs has shot to the top of the closely contested US healthcare deal rankings after being named as sole adviser to US healthcare insurer Humana on its sale to its larger rival Aetna for $37 billion.

The deal moves Goldman Sachs up from third to first place in the US healthcare M&A league tables amid a frenzy of activity since the start of the year in the sector. Morgan Stanley and JP Morgan led the M&A healthcare rankings at the half-way stage.