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Tristan Manalac

Tristan Manalac

Contributing Writer | News

Tristan is an independent science writer based in Metro Manila, with more than eight years of experience writing about medicine, biotech and science. Being formally trained in molecular biology, he once dreamed of collecting degrees and starting his own lab. But these days, he finds his greatest joy in a bottle of beer and a beautiful sentence. He can be reached at tristan.manalac@biospace.com, tristan@tristanmanalac.com or on LinkedIn.

President Donald Trump signs S.1852, The GENIUS Act, Friday, July 18, 2025, in the East Room of the White House. (Official White House Photo by Daniel Torok)
Drug pricing
TrumpRx Delayed Amid Potential Anti-Kickback Concerns
In a Cabinet meeting, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said the website could go live “probably in the next 10 days,” but an exact launch date remains unclear.
January 30, 2026
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Business people shaking hand in China.
Obesity
AstraZeneca’s China Trip Yields CSPC Obesity Deal Worth $1.2B Upfront
The pact, which could see AstraZeneca ultimately put out $18.5 billion in milestones and sales-based payments, is centered on SYH2082, a long-acting dual agonist of the GLP-1 and GIP receptors.
January 30, 2026
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: A syringe broken in half with long hallway in background/Nicole Bean for BioSpace
Vaccines
Sanofi Moves Away From mRNA Flu Vaccine as CEO Projects Confidence
Despite Sanofi CEO Paul Hudson’s confidence in vaccines, the French pharma has cut at least one mRNA flu shot program.
January 30, 2026
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Finding the right balance in business. Art collage.
Regulatory
Summit’s Potential Keytruda Rival Gets November FDA Decision Date
The FDA is currently reviewing Summit’s PD-1/VEGF bispecific as part of a chemotherapy combo for the treatment of locally advanced or metastatic non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer.
January 30, 2026
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1 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Water tap dripping dollar bills on gray background. Business and financial success concept. 3D Rendering
IPO
Eikon, Veradermics, Announce IPO Targets as Cautious Optimism Propels Biotech Market
Cancer-focused Eikon Therapeutics is seeking $273.5 million in its bid to trade on the Nasdaq, while hair growth specialist Veradermics is looking for $181.1 million in its foray onto the New York Stock Exchange.
January 29, 2026
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3 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Facade of AstraZeneca's office in Shanghai, China
China
AstraZeneca Pledges $15B More in Chinese Investments for Cell Therapies, Radiopharma
AstraZeneca has risen as one of pharma’s most prolific investors in China, including a $630 million pledge last week for full rights to AbelZeta’s cell therapy for cancer.
January 29, 2026
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1 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Vaccination against dangerous diseases. stock photo
Vaccines
Sanofi Suffers Another Sales Dip for ‘Gift to Public Health’ Vaccines
Sanofi’s vaccine sales dipped 2.5% in 2025, with almost all immunization products declining. Nevertheless, CEO Paul Hudson doubled down on his support for vaccine development.
January 29, 2026
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Handshake in retro collage style. Hands with halftone effect make a deal, a hand comes out of a laptop, online deals. Vector modern illustration.
Immunology and inflammation
Lilly Establishes up to $1.9B Repertoire Deal in Second Immune Play of 2026
The Repertoire partnership is Lilly’s second immunology play of the year, after the acquistion of Ventyx in early January for a pipeline of NLRP3 assets.
January 29, 2026
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: J&J's office in Madrid, Spain
Cancer
J&J’s Darzalex Faspro Notches Another Multiple Myeloma Indication, Pushing Into Frontline
Darzalex Faspro, in combination with an anti-cancer triplet, is the first anti-CD38-based regimen for newly diagnosed patients with multiple myeloma, regardless of eligibility for stem cell transplantation.
January 28, 2026
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Image picture pin up collage poster of falling man guy from destroyed arrow rise up bankrupt concept.
Cancer
Cardiff Craters Amid Executive Exits, Mixed Mid-Stage Data
Onvansertib cut the risk of death or disease progression by 62% versus standard of care, but analysts await more detailed data.
January 28, 2026
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
A contemporary art collage depicting a giant ear listening to a message bubble while covering it with a hand. The concept of taking in a useful experience or overhearing a new idea.
Gene editing
Lilly Leans Into Hearing Loss in $1.12B+ Gene Editing Pact With Seamless
The deal will help bolster Eli Lilly’s growing hearing loss portfolio, which is anchored by the gene therapy AK-OTOF.
January 28, 2026
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Boehringer Ingelheim's office in California
Inflammatory bowel disease
Boehringer Commits up to $1.26B in IBD Pact With China’s Simcere
The cornerstone of the deal is SIM0709, which Simcere designed to target both TL1A and IL-23, crucial players in facilitating inflammation. Boehringer Ingelheim will advance the asset for inflammatory bowel diseases.
January 27, 2026
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
The man opens the door. The concept of mystery or new opportunities or the path to the future.
GLP-1
Baseline Debuts To Challenge GLP-1 Giant Lilly in Alcohol Use Disorder
While Baseline Therapeutics declined to disclose its starting capital, the startup said it will use the funds to push its GLP-1 asset BT-001 into late-stage development, with two trials planned this year.
January 27, 2026
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Composite contemporary collage statue of justice themis femida on the background of the target as the concept and idea of justice and law. High quality photo
Legal
CytoDyn’s Former CEO Gets Jail Time, $5.3M+ Fine for Securities Fraud
Nader Pourhassan, who led CytoDyn for nearly 10 years, was convicted in December 2024 of misleading investors regarding the biotech’s investigational COVID-19 and HIV drug, which artificially inflated its share price.
January 27, 2026
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Biotechnology and molecular genetic engineering. 3D illustration of science and molecular technology.
Duchenne muscular dystrophy
Sarepta’s DMD Gene Therapy Staves Off Disease Three Years After Treatment
After a spate of patient deaths in 2025 linked to the company’s Duchenne gene therapy, Sarepta shared new data showing benefits of the therapy three years after dosing.
January 26, 2026
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2 min read
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Dan Samorodnitsky
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