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.

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

2 min read

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

2 min read

Tristan Manalac

A contemporary art collage depicting a giant ear listening to a message bubble while covering it with a hand. The concept of taking in a useful experience or overhearing a new idea.

Gene editing

Lilly Leans Into Hearing Loss in $1.12B+ Gene Editing Pact With Seamless

The deal will help bolster Eli Lilly’s growing hearing loss portfolio, which is anchored by the gene therapy AK-OTOF.

January 28, 2026

2 min read

Tristan Manalac

Pictured: Boehringer Ingelheim's office in California

Inflammatory bowel disease

Boehringer Commits up to $1.26B in IBD Pact With China’s Simcere

The cornerstone of the deal is SIM0709, which Simcere designed to target both TL1A and IL-23, crucial players in facilitating inflammation. Boehringer Ingelheim will advance the asset for inflammatory bowel diseases.

January 27, 2026

2 min read

Tristan Manalac

The man opens the door. The concept of mystery or new opportunities or the path to the future.

GLP-1

Baseline Debuts To Challenge GLP-1 Giant Lilly in Alcohol Use Disorder

While Baseline Therapeutics declined to disclose its starting capital, the startup said it will use the funds to push its GLP-1 asset BT-001 into late-stage development, with two trials planned this year.

January 27, 2026

2 min read

Tristan Manalac

Composite contemporary collage statue of justice themis femida on the background of the target as the concept and idea of justice and law. High quality photo

Legal

CytoDyn’s Former CEO Gets Jail Time, $5.3M+ Fine for Securities Fraud

Nader Pourhassan, who led CytoDyn for nearly 10 years, was convicted in December 2024 of misleading investors regarding the biotech’s investigational COVID-19 and HIV drug, which artificially inflated its share price.

January 27, 2026

2 min read

Tristan Manalac

Biotechnology and molecular genetic engineering. 3D illustration of science and molecular technology.

Duchenne muscular dystrophy

Sarepta’s DMD Gene Therapy Staves Off Disease Three Years After Treatment

After a spate of patient deaths in 2025 linked to the company’s Duchenne gene therapy, Sarepta shared new data showing benefits of the therapy three years after dosing.

January 26, 2026

2 min read

Dan Samorodnitsky

Set your goals is shown using the collage with aim and the hand. Business targeting, aiming, focus concept and way to achieve a goal

Ovarian cancer

Corcept’s Ovarian Cancer Drug Hits ‘Robust’ Efficacy in Phase III, Setting Up Challenge to Merck, AbbVie

Corcept’s overall survival data “look competitive” with AbbVie’s Elahere and Merck’s blockbuster Keytruda, Truist Securities said Thursday.

January 26, 2026

2 min read

Tristan Manalac

Two hands locked in a handshake cut by a pair of scissors, symbolizing a severed relationship or partnership. Black and white collage illustration on paper textured background

Mergers & acquisitions

Merck Backs Off Revolution After Failing To Agree on Price: WSJ

Merck had previously offered anywhere from $28 billion to $32 billion to swallow Revolution Medicines.

January 26, 2026

1 min read

Tristan Manalac

Brain neurons synapse in human head isolated on black background, 3D rendering.

Parkinson’s disease

5 Investigational Therapies That Could Change the Parkinson’s Landscape

From opening new therapeutic mechanisms to repairing neuronal damage, investigational molecules from Ventyx Therapeutics, AC Immune, Gain Therapeutics and more could shape the future of Parkinson’s disease treatment.

January 26, 2026

9 min read

Tristan Manalac

Pros and cons collage. Mixed media thumbs up and thumbs down hand gestures with speech bubbles. Review concept, positive and negative feedback vector illustration.

Immunology and inflammation

Sanofi Stumbles Again in Eczema—But Plans FDA Filing for OX40 Blocker Anyway

The mixed data from the Phase III COAST 2 trial follows an underwhelming data drop from COAST 1 in September that Leerink Partners said “fell well below expectations.”

January 23, 2026

2 min read

Tristan Manalac

Government

Spending Bill Clears House, Keeping Priority Review Voucher Hopes Alive

The $1.2 trillion budget package will now move to the Senate, which is expected to hold a vote next week.

January 23, 2026

3 min read

Tristan Manalac

Concept art showing a money icon and human hands

Funding

China’s Corxel Nabs $287M Series D1 to Bankroll GLP-1 Pill

Corxel will use the fundraising proceeds to advance the oral GLP-1 therapy CX11 through mid-stage development in the U.S., as well as prepare for its Phase III studies.

January 23, 2026

1 min read

Tristan Manalac

Vaccines

Moderna Won’t Run Phase III Vaccine Trials as Skepticism Grows in US: Bloomberg

Growing opposition to vaccines in the U.S., driven by recent government policy changes, makes it difficult to see a return on investment in vaccine development, Moderna CEO Stéphane Bancel said this week.

January 23, 2026

2 min read

Tristan Manalac

2006 James Gathany Captured by James Gathany, Centers for Disease Control's biomedical photographer, this 2006 image depicted the exterior of the new "Tom Harkin Global Communications Center", otherwise known as Building 19, located on the organization's Roybal Campus in Atlanta, Georgia. The facility houses the CDC's Information Center/Library, auditoria and meeting halls, which are used to accommodate in-house staff meetings, and national/international conferences hosted by the CDC, and the National Center for Health Marketing's, Division of Creative Services, which includes a full service television broadcast facility. The exhibit area currently features the "Global Symphony", the first of several permanently installed exhibitions, and changing exhibitions that focus on a variety of public health topics. The exhibits in the Center are self-guided, and require no advance reservations. Additional curriculum-based exhibits and programming will be added in the future. Tom Harkin Global Communications Center Exhibit Area Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - 1600 Clifton Road, N.E., Atlanta, Georgia 30333 - Hours: Monday Friday, 9 am 5 pm, except for federal holidays Admission is free - Government-issue photo ID is required for entry. Please note that CDC is a working federal facility and as such does not provide public tours of its campus and laboratories. - For more information please call 404-639-0830.

Vaccines

ACIP Chair Questions Polio Vaccines, Values Individual Choice Over Public Benefit

“I don’t like established science,” ACIP chairperson Kirk Milhoan said in an interview on the Why Should I Trust You? podcast. “Science is what I observe.”

January 23, 2026

2 min read

Tristan Manalac