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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.

Multi-directional arrows on yellow background , choose between several potential future options and scenarios,3d rendering
GLP-1
7 Indications for GLP-1s Beyond Weight Loss
Already established as cornerstone therapies in diabetes and obesity, GLP-1 receptor agonists also show potential in several other indications, including cancer, addiction and neurodegenerative diseases.
December 23, 2024
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11 min read
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Tristan Manalac
GSK's headquarters office building in Poznan, Poland
Ovarian cancer
GSK Posts Mixed Survival Data for Jemperli/Zejula Combo in First-Line Ovarian Cancer
First approved in 2021, Jemperli has now become a cornerstone of GSK’s cancer business, earning more than $160 million in the third quarter.
December 20, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Corporate headquarters of Novo Nordisk in Denmark
Obesity
Novo Nosedives on Underwhelming CagriSema Phase III Weight-Loss Data
Investors appeared disappointed by CagriSema’s Phase III readout, which showed weight loss that fell short of Novo Nordisk’s prior projections for the therapy. Meanwhile, Eli Lilly’s stock rose on the news.
December 20, 2024
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3 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Washington, D.C., USA- January 13, 2020: FDA Sign at its headquarters in Washington DC. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or USFDA) is a federal agency of the USA.
Approvals
Ionis’ Tryngolza Becomes First FDA-Approved Therapy for Familial Chylomicronemia Syndrome
Despite securing the industry’s first approval for familial chylomicronemia syndrome, BMO Capital Markets believes that Tryngolza’s regulatory triumph will not be a significant positive for Ionis. Instead, the firm is focusing on olezarsen’s readout in severe hypertriglyceridemia, a much larger market.
December 20, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Eli Lilly Campus in San Diego
Drug shortages
FDA Confirms Lilly’s GLP-1s Are Not in Shortage, Gives Compounders Grace Period
After a couple months of uncertainty, the FDA has told compounding pharmacies that they have 60 to 90 days before the agency will enforce rules to stop their production of GLP-1s.
December 19, 2024
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3 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Entrance to Vertex's office in Boston, Massachusetts
Pain
Vertex Dips on Mixed Phase II Data for Non-Opioid Pain Therapy
Vertex Pharmaceuticals’ investigational non-opioid analgesic suzetrigine failed to outperform placebo. Investors voiced their concerns as the company’s share price fell 13% in premarket trading.
December 19, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: 3D illustration of stem cells used for cell therapy
Cell therapy
Mesoblast Wins First Mesenchymal Stromal Cell Therapy FDA Approval for GVHD
The approval concludes what has been a difficult regulatory path for Ryoncil, which suffered FDA rejections in 2020 and 2023.
December 19, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: WHO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland/
GLP-1
GLP-1s Potentially ‘Transformative’ but Could Lead to ‘Distorted’ Obesity Care: WHO
According to the World Health Organization, GLP-1 receptor agonists are currently being used in a highly medicalized manner. Healthcare systems need to enact more holistic solutions, focusing on health promotion, disease prevention and policy interventions.
December 19, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
South San Francisco, CA, USA - May 1, 2022: Exterior view of the Merck Researches Laboratories in South San Francisco, California. Merck & Co., Inc. is a global pharmaceutical company headquartered in Rahway, New Jersey. The company does business as Merck Sharp & Dohme (MSD) outside the United States and Canada.
GLP-1
Merck Joins Obesity Pill Race With Up to $2B Hansoh Deal
The Hansoh deal will let Merck compete in the crowded oral GLP-1 space alongside fellow pharma giants Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk and Roche.
December 18, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
FDA sign in front of its building in Maryland
GLP-1
FDA Issues Warning Letters Against Online GLP-1 Sellers
The letters come amid the Outsourcing Facilities Association’s ongoing lawsuit against the FDA over the regulator’s decision to end the shortage for tirzepatide.
December 18, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Contemporary art collage of hand holding an arrow showing fall. Modern design. Copy space.
Cardiovascular disease
Tenaya Stock Crashes as Cardio Gene Therapy Delivers Underwhelming Early-Stage Data
Tenaya’s share slump following the TN-201 data drop could be due to its “significantly lower” level of RNA expression in the Phase Ib/II trial than in preclinical models, according to William Blair analysts.
December 18, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Extreme Close-Up Of Human Eye
Postmarket research
Regeneron, Bayer Build Retinal Vein Occlusion Case for Eylea as Biosimilar Pressure Mounts
The Phase III win could help Regeneron and Bayer expand into retinal vein occlusion, a move that the partners need to help shore up sales of their Eylea franchise amid biosimilar encroachment.
December 17, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Feb 2, 2020 South San Francisco / CA / USA - Merck & Co. headquarters in Silicon Valley; Merck & Co. Inc. is an American multinational pharmaceutical company
Pipeline
Merck Axes Two Cancer Candidates After Disappointing Late-Stage Results
Both vibostolimab and favezelimab have had disappointing runs leading up to their termination, sustaining several late-stage failures.
December 17, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Johnson & Johnson Business Center in Switzerland
Complete response letters
J&J’s FDA Bid for Subcutaneous Rybrevant Falls Short
The FDA cited issues with a manufacturing facility as the reason for the rejection. J&J is currently “working closely” with the regulator to resolve these problems.
December 17, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: BMS sign on a building in San Diego, California/iStock, JHVEPhoto
Collaboration
BMS’ Cost-Cutting Campaign Claims Collabs With Immatics, Century
Bristol Myers Squibb aims to generate around $1.5 billion in savings through 2025—a goal that it hopes to reach by lowering third-party expenditures, focusing only on key growth brands and cutting some 2,200 jobs by year-end.
December 16, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
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