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Tristan Manalac

Tristan Manalac

Senior Staff Writer

Tristan is BioSpace‘s senior staff writer. Based in Metro Manila, Tristan has 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.

Money dollar rolled up with pills flowing out isolated on blue background, high costs of expensive medication concept. Copy space.
Funding
Ambrosia Eyes Next-Generation Small Molecule GLP-1s With $100M Series B
While peptides are currently the dominant approach to GLP-1 agonism, Ambrosia Biosciences is pursuing a small-molecule approach.
April 1, 2026
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
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Regulatory
FDA Ties Amgen’s Rare Inflammatory Disease Drug to Eight Deaths, Dozens of Liver Injuries
The FDA in January asked Amgen to pull Tavneos from the market, citing liver toxicity issues that affected the drug’s overall risk-benefit profile. The pharma refused.
April 1, 2026
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
3d render, open blue door isolated on blue background, yellow light going through the slot. Architectural design element. Modern minimal concept. Opportunity metaphor.
Company closure
IO Shuts Down Following Regulatory Roadblocks
The FDA advised IO Biotech last year to hold off on filing an approval application for its cancer vaccine Cylembio, pointing to a failed Phase 3 study in frontline advanced melanoma. The biotech has now gone under.
April 1, 2026
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Robot sits at big arrow, symbolising a growth of AI technology. 3D rendering
Artificial intelligence
Biotech IPOs Rebound as AI Takes a More Central Role in Drug Development
The recent uptick in IPOs is an encouraging signal after a drought for much of 2025. Experts point to AI as a driving force behind this resurgence.
April 1, 2026
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6 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Red alarm clock on dollar banknotes. Retro style alarm clock and dollars. Time to work / tome to make money concept.
Mergers & acquisitions
Lilly Wakes Up Sleep Market With $6.3B Centessa Buy To Challenge Takeda
In the buyout, Eli Lilly picks up Centessa Pharmaceuticals’ lead asset cleminorexton, which could go toe-to-toe with Takeda’s oveporexton, currently under FDA review with a decision expected in the third quarter.
March 31, 2026
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Orlando, Florida
Immunology and inflammation
AAD 2026: Sanofi, Incyte, Roivant and Alumis Make Headway Into Skin Diseases
Presentations at the 2026 meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology not only demonstrate the therapeutic potential of next-generation skin drugs but also shed light on how they might fare on the market.
March 31, 2026
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4 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Stagflation, economic slow down or recession while inflation high up, GDP growth decrease causing by unemployment concept, fearful businessman riding fall down economic graph with inflation high up.
Immunology and inflammation
Viridian Turns Red as Thyroid Eye Disease Data Disappoint
Despite hitting its primary endpoint, Viridian’s thyroid eye disease antibody failed to ease eye bulging to the degree that analysts had been hoping for, and the biotech’s stock price fell by one-third.
March 31, 2026
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
ransparent plastic tube being blocked by orange balls on blue background. Illustration of the concept of digestive disorders and difficulties on career paths
Cardiovascular disease
Merck’s Cholesterol Pill Delivers ‘Antibody-Like Efficacy’ After Earning FDA Voucher
Merck is eyeing a quick review for its lipid-lowering drug candidate enlicitide, which in December was awarded a Commissioner’s National Priority Voucher.
March 31, 2026
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
IPO Initial Public Offering finance business concept. 3D render vector illustration of Trading on IPO Initial Public Offering, Business Startup and Stock Market Concept. Public offering share launch
IPO tracker
Biotech Mega-Rounder Kailera Seeks IPO
Analysts are cautiously optimistic about an IPO rebound for biopharma. BioSpace is keeping track of companies that seek to trade on the public markets this year.
March 30, 2026
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6 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Success to win in business competition, overcome obstacles or motivation to solve problem and lead company achievement concept, confident businessman leader jump high over 3 hurdles to be winner.
Approvals
Biogen Bounces Back With FDA Nod for High-Dose Spinal Muscular Atrophy Drug
The FDA rejected the high-dose regimen of Spinraza in September last year due to manufacturing concerns.
March 30, 2026
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3 min read
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Tristan Manalac
illustration of people racing along arrows
Cardiovascular disease
Merck Pushes Winrevair Past Dose-Response Doubts Into Pivotal Study for Rare Type of Heart Failure
The lack of a dose-response effect could be due to the high number of dropouts in the higher-dose Winrevair arm and the relatively small study population, a discussant for Merck explained.
March 30, 2026
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Robotic claw clutching a money stock illustration
Deals
Lilly Doubles Down on Insilico’s AI Medicines, Bets up to $2.75B
The Insilico Medicine agreement plays into Eli Lilly’s recent AI push, anchored by a partnership last year with NVIDIA to build a supercomputer to optimize drug discovery and shorten the development timeline.
March 30, 2026
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Employee competency assessment. Collage of hands holding king and a pawn. Succession planning.
Immunology and inflammation
As J&J Brings Icotyde to Market, AbbVie Remains Confident in Skyrizi’s Efficacy Edge
AbbVie’s Skyrizi appears to have stronger efficacy than Johnson & Johnson’s newly approved pill Icotyde, as well as a less frequent dosing schedule that patients could prefer, according to analysts at BMO Capital Markets.
March 30, 2026
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3 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Silver Spring, MD, USA 11/10/2020: Exterior view of the headquarters of US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This federal agency approves medications, vaccines and food additives for human use.
Regulatory
6 FDA Decisions To Watch in Q2 2026
The FDA has some big verdicts lined up in the second quarter, including one for a closely watched obesity drug that many anticipate will further intensify competition in weight loss.
March 30, 2026
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7 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Business people and concepts vector art exit
Government
After Speaking out of Turn, Malone Steps Down From Vaccine Committee
Former ACIP vice chair Robert Malone claimed that Andrew Nixon, spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services, “trashed” him with the media, adding that he resigned because “I do not like drama.”
March 27, 2026
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
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