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Tristan Manalac

Tristan Manalac

Senior Staff Writer

Tristan is BioSpace‘s senior staff writer. Based in Metro Manila, Tristan has 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.

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IPO
Obesity newcomer Kalohexis makes confidential IPO bid 3 months after spinoff
Kalohexis is working on peptide therapies, including one for obesity that could offer an alternative approach to the GLP-1s that currently dominate the weight loss space.
July 8, 2026
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
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Immunology and inflammation
AstraZeneca bets up to $1.9B in respiratory disease collab with Sino Biopharmaceutical
In AstraZeneca’s third trip to Asia this year, the pharma secured ex-China rights to a dual inhibitor of PDE3 and PDE4, which in a Phase 2b study significantly improved lung function and lowered symptom burden in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder.
July 8, 2026
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Dollar paper airplane flying against blue background, business concept
Venture capital
5 largest VC rounds of H1 2026
Early-stage financing rounds are on track to hit their lowest dollar value in years as funders continue to eschew risky investments, experts told BioSpace.
July 8, 2026
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9 min read
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Tristan Manalac
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Mergers & acquisitions
Vertex inks $10B Crinetics buy, entering ‘white space blockbuster opportunity’
Vertex Pharmaceuticals’ acquisition of Crinetics Pharmaceuticals is the largest pickup in the company’s history, according to analysts at BMO Capital Markets.
July 7, 2026
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
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Cancer
BMS’ Krazati kneels to chemo in confirmatory colorectal cancer trial
Patients treated with Bristol Myers Squibb’s Krazati in combination with cetuximab saw shorter median overall and progression-free survival than comparators on chemotherapy.
July 7, 2026
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
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IPO
Early-stage Scribe wants to write IPO story even as investors favor derisked portfolios
Scribe Therapeutics’ pipeline is immature, with its lead program recently greenlit for first-in-human testing. The biotech is working on CRISPR-based therapies for cardiometabolic diseases.
July 6, 2026
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
A handshake of businessmen. Modern design with a positive context. Concept of help, support, and agreement between businessmen. Modern art collage, trendy magazine style.
Deals
Novartis drops up to $1.5B for ADC specialist Myricx, continuing cancer spending spree
The centerpiece of the acquisition is Myricx Bio’s novel N-myristoyltransferase inhibitor payload platform, which could help Novartis develop antibody-drug conjugates that can overcome the limitations of existing therapies.
July 6, 2026
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
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Rare diseases
BridgeBio touts kidney benefits for Attruby, differentiating from amyloidosis competitors
BridgeBio’s Attruby preserves kidney function in patients with transthyretin amyloidosis cardiomyopathy, an effect that is “distinct” from other drugs in this space, according to Jefferies.
July 6, 2026
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
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FDA
Despite chaos and churn, FDA decisions hold mostly steady in H1 2026
Significant leadership instability at the FDA—compounded by continued workforce attrition—led to a slight slowdown in overall regulatory productivity in the first half of this year, but the agency has been catching up of late.
July 6, 2026
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8 min read
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Tristan Manalac
A scientist with pill bottles in front of FDA headquarters
FDA
7 FDA decisions to watch for in Q3
Many of the FDA’s decisions this quarter involve applications that have previously been delayed, declined or outright rejected, including one for an mRNA vaccine that became the center of controversy earlier this year.
July 2, 2026
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7 min read
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Tristan Manalac
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China
AstraZeneca taps China’s CSPC again, betting up to $1.77B to target kidney diseases
AstraZeneca and CSPC Pharmaceutical Group have already inked two other agreements this year, including an obesity-focused deal in January and one focused on chronic diseases in June.
July 2, 2026
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
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Alzheimer’s disease
Merck axes Alzheimer’s study, adding to partner Neuphoria’s mounting woes
The mid-stage disappointment in Alzheimer’s disease delivers another blow to Neuphoria Therapeutics, which in November last year was forced to launch a strategic business review after a Phase 3 trial in social anxiety disorder failed.
July 2, 2026
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
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Approvals
Vertex’s Casgevy becomes first approved gene therapy for young kids with rare blood disorders
The FDA approved the expansion of Casgevy, which had previously been greenlit for patients 12 and up, into a younger pediatric population under the agency’s Commissioner’s National Priority Voucher program.
July 2, 2026
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Business and financial crisis vector concept with businessman falling down the hole. Symbol of market crash, recession, risk, bankruptcy and loss. Eps10 illustration.
Neuropsychiatric disorders
Vistagen in freefall as social anxiety drug fails Phase 3
Despite the late-stage fail, Vistagen will nevertheless continue to push its drug candidate forward and meet with the FDA to align on a potential registrational path.
July 1, 2026
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Man walking on a long wavy path with flag at the end, persistence, determination and ultimate business success - 3D Render
Duchenne muscular dystrophy
Sarepta secures early 2027 FDA decision for Duchenne drugs, pushing past confirmatory fail
Sarepta Therapeutics is seeking to convert the accelerated approval of its therapeutic exon-skippers for Duchenne muscular dystrophy to full despite the drugs’ failure to improve motor function in a confirmatory trial.
July 1, 2026
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
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