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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.

Mechanical weight scale, body mass control concept : Bathroom scale on pale blue wood background. Analog scale operated with spring that pressure is calibrated to translate tension into a mass readout.
Obesity
Pfizer’s First Weight-Loss Data After Metsera Buy ‘Look Competitive’
With data from a mid-stage trial showing weight loss of up to 12.3% at 28 weeks in patients treated with PF’3944, “Pfizer is moving full speed into obesity clinical development,” BMO Capital Markets said Tuesday.
February 3, 2026
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Life is full of challenges and unexpected obstacles. Use these experiences as motivation to keep pushing forward and striving for your goals
Antibody-drug conjugate (ADC)
Daiichi Sankyo Dumps Next-Gen ADC From Development Pipeline
DS-9606 was supposed to be the first antibody-drug conjugate in Daiichi Sankyo’s line of anti-cancer assets to use a modified pyrrolobenzodiazepine payload.
February 3, 2026
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Roche's tower in Shanghai, China
Deals
Roche Keeps the Deals Coming With up to $1.7B SangeneBio RNAi Pact
The alliance will add to Roche’s RNAi efforts, which include the hypertension candidate zilbesiran, partnered with Alnylam under a July 2023 agreement.
February 3, 2026
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1 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Racing Cars at the finish line
Weight loss
Novo’s Next-Gen Obesity Drug Beats Wegovy on Blood Sugar Control in Phase III
While CagriSema bested Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy on blood sugar control in a late-stage trial, the next-gen weight loss drug still has not met the pharma’s 25% weight loss goal.
February 3, 2026
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Dashed line from pills isolated on white
Rare diseases
GSK Hands RNA Editor Back to Wave After Underwhelming Early AATD Data
While GSK did not provide a specific reason for returning Wave Life Sciences’ WVE-006, the decision comes after the asset in September 2025 came below analyst expectations in a Phase Ib/IIa AATD study.
February 2, 2026
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Silver Spring, MD, USA - June 25, 2022: The FDA White Oak Campus, headquarters of the United States Food and Drug Administration, a federal agency of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
Manufacturing
FDA Launches PreCheck Program, Intended To Bring Manufacturers Home
The program will allow for frequent communication with the FDA, giving manufacturers timely input and guidance regarding the design of their facilities.
February 2, 2026
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Drug or medicine dose adjustment. Dose regulation and overdose. Titration of medicine dosage. Overmedication and prescribed dose. Drug rejection.
Complete response letters
FDA Warned Corcept of ‘Significant Review Issues’ for Rejected Drug in Early Meetings
Corcept’s relacorilant was rejected for hypercortisolism late last year—a decision which CEO Joseph Belanoff expressed surprise with at the time.
February 2, 2026
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1 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Amgen's office in Tampa, Florida
Autoimmune disease
Amgen Ends Autoimmune Alliance With Kyowa Kirin Amid Safety, Efficacy Questions
A Phase III readout in September 2024 for rocatinlimab, on which Amgen and Kyowa Kirin were collaborating in atopic dermatitis, appeared underwhelming to analysts, with Jefferies noting that the data “came in at the lower end of efficacy and expectations.”
February 2, 2026
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
A scientist with pill bottles in front of FDA headquarters
Regulatory
FDA Action Alert: Sanofi/Regeneron, Merck, REGENXBIO and More
In what is shaping up to be a back-loaded month, the FDA is set to release a slew of regulatory decisions in February, including two that would expand the labels of blockbuster drugs.
February 2, 2026
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7 min read
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Tristan Manalac
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
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