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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.

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
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
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