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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.

Pictured: Eli Lilly's headquarters in Indianapolis
Collaboration
Lilly Hops On Hot Molecular Glue Train With $1.2B+ Magnet Deal
The molecular glue space has attracted several Big Pharma players over the past few years, including Novo Nordisk, Pfizer and Novartis.
February 28, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
3D illustration of an RNA molecule
Cardiovascular disease
Silence Quiets Phase III Pace for Lipoprotein Drug, Seeks Partner
The search for a partner for zerlasiran is ongoing, according to Silence. In the meantime, the biotech will focus its resources on divesiran, which it is testing for polycythemia vera and other hematologic indications.
February 28, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Contemporary art collage of a hand holding scissors. Copy space for ad. Modern design.
Pipeline
Mission Nixes Preclinical Studies, Falls Back on Clinical Candidates
Mission Therapeutics is down to its clinical assets MTX652 and MTX325, which work by disabling a key enzyme that interferes with the cell’s normal process of removing faulty or dysfunctional mitochondria.
February 28, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Illustration of two hands shaking while another hand gently grips a wrist
Collaboration
Cassava’s Stock Rises After Licensing Seizure Rights for Embattled Drug Simufilam
The licensing deal follows years of controversy for Cassava, as well as the high-profile late-stage failure of its Alzheimer’s disease drug simufilam.
February 28, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Weigh scales on pink background, top view with space for text. Overweight concept
Weight loss
Kallyope Discreetly Drops Disappointing Data for Oral Obesity Candidate
While Kallyope’s drugs are mechanistically unique, the biotech is competing in a crowded space, with other therapies that appear to elicit superior weight-loss.
February 27, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Regeneron logo on a light brown building
Lymphoma
Regeneron Narrows Approval Aspirations for Lymphoma Bispecific, Citing ‘Competitor Developments’
The company will push through with an accelerated approval application for odronextamab in follicular lymphoma, leaving diffuse large B cell lymphoma behind.
February 27, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Eli Lilly's headquarters in Indianapolis
Manufacturing
Lilly Puts $27B Into U.S. Manufacturing Bump Following Trump’s Tariff Threats
The move comes after President Donald Trump warned Big Pharma leaders that he would impose tariffs on them if they refuse to reshore their manufacturing operations.
February 27, 2025
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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
Meeting of FDA’s Vaccines Advisory Panel Canceled as Kennedy Settles Into HHS
The back-to-back high-level disruptions in vaccine policy under Robert F. Kennedy Jr. comes as the U.S. records its first death from measles since 2015.
February 27, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Halftone hands reaching for money. Mixed media catch falling coins and cash bills collage, financial success, free wealth and easy money concept vector illustration
Funding
Eikon Adds Nearly $351M to Conquer Phase III Development in Melanoma
Eikon’s lead candidate, EIK1001, is being tested for advanced melanoma. The candidate is currently in late-stage development, which the biotech will fund using Wednesday’s series D raise.
February 26, 2025
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1 min read
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Tristan Manalac
External view of the U.S. Capitol building
Government
Congress Re-Introduces EPIC Act to Remove IRA’s ‘Pill Penalty’
While many industry players and observers have high hopes for the EPIC Act, some say budgetary headwinds could make it difficult for the current administration to make meaningful repeals or amendments to the IRA.
February 26, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Deviation from the plan, path or norms. Choosing an alternative way, changing the plans and flexibility.
Pipeline
Kiniksa Axes Sjögren’s Program, AstraZeneca-Licensed Antibody in Cardio Pivot
Kiniksa will now focus its development efforts on the IL-1 blocker KPL-387, which it is testing for recurrent pericarditis with Phase II/III trials planned for mid-2025.
February 26, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Achieve goal concept art collage. Rising arrow chart and halftone hand pointing to center of dartboard. Business goal, achieve targets, success. Trendy modern retro vector illustration
Neuroscience
Emalex Heads to FDA After Phase III Tourette Syndrome Win
Emalex is gearing up for a New Drug Application for ecopipam in Tourette syndrome later this year.
February 26, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Facade of Takeda's office in Massachusetts
Collaboration
Takeda Pumps $770M Into Another BridGene Pact to Hit ‘Undruggable’ Targets
BridGene strikes another partnership with Takeda as the latter company continues its dealmaking streak, following high-ticket agreements with Keros Therapeutics, AC Immune and Degron Therapeutics in the past nine months.
February 25, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Loss of one drug name. Ban on a drug or its shortage. Exclusion from the list of free drugs available under the medical social program.
Drug shortages
Compounders Sue FDA for Declaring Ozempic, Wegovy Shortage Over
The Outsourcing Facilities Association, a trade group representing compounders, filed a similar lawsuit in October last year after the FDA formally ended the tirzepaptide shortage.
February 25, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Johnson & Johnson's business center in Switzerland
Legal
J&J Takes Samsung Bioepis to Court Over ‘Unlawful’ Stelara Biosimilar Sublicense
Samsung Bioepis allegedly entered into an agreement with a third-party health company, allowing it to market its own private label of a Stelara biosimilar.
February 25, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
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