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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.

Facade of Novo Nordisk's office in Fremont, California
Obesity
Novo Rebounds as Next-Gen Obesity Drug Elicits up to 22% Weight Loss
The readout comes on the heels of CagriSema’s disappointing Phase III performance, where it missed Novo’s projection of 25% weight reduction.
January 24, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Loaded syringe and opioids_iStock, Darwi
Legal
Purdue Pharma, Sacklers Settle Opioid Lawsuits For $7.4B
The settlement is the largest deal to date with the people primarily who played an “instrumental role” in driving the opioid crisis, according to the office of Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell.
January 24, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Government
Senate Lines Up RFK Jr. Confirmation Hearing Amid Mounting Criticism
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.’s recent disclosures have revealed several potential conflicts of interest, including investments in two biopharma companies.
January 24, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Biogen’s headquarters in Massachusetts
Layoffs
Biogen Trims Research Workforce, Higher-Dose SMA Drug Accepted for Regulatory Review
In a good-news-bad-news week for Biogen, the company will cut an undisclosed number of employees, just as a higher dose of its Ionis-partnered therapy Spinraza for spinal muscular atrophy will be considered by the FDA and EMA.
January 23, 2025
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3 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Facade of the FDA's office in Maryland
Multiple sclerosis
FDA Tacks Boxed Warning on Teva’s Copaxone, Other MS Drugs
The drugs’ active ingredient, glatiramer acetate, has been linked to more than 80 cases of anaphylaxis worldwide since December 1996 and six patient deaths.
January 23, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Concept of money prize. Vector illustration. Halftone hand holds bouquet of money flowers. Gift prize, donation, earnings, bonus or cashback concept. Retro poster or banner. Creative trend collage.
Manufacturing
Samsung Biologics Continues Mega-Deal Streak With $1.4B European Contract
The deal follows a $1.06 billion U.S. contract in July 2024 and a $1.24 billion agreement with an Asia-based pharma a few months later.
January 23, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Art collage, hands and scales of justice. The concept of the law of the judge.
Legal
Vanda Loses Confidentiality Complaint Over FDA’s Talks With Generics Developers
The U.S. Court of Federal Claims ruled that Vanda cannot claim a breach of confidentiality for specifications that it did not develop itself.
January 23, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Business people shaking hand in China.
ADCs
ArriVent Joins Chinese Licensing Trend With Potential $1.2B+ ADC Deal with Lepu
With an eye toward advancing a novel antibody-drug conjugate for gastrointestinal cancers, ArriVent is the latest biopharma player to ink a deal with a Chinese biotech.
January 22, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Johnson & Johnson's business center in Switzerland
Depression
J&J’s Spravato Makes Headway in Tough Depression Space With Monotherapy Approval
Spravato’s monotherapy nod on Tuesday comes after a series of setbacks in the depression space.
January 22, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Large yellow signboard on metal frame with the word IPO. Clear sky in the background. Concept of share trading on stock market, capital investment, currency exchange
IPO
Chinese Biotech Ascentage Aims For $134M IPO
Ascentage is looking to use the IPO proceeds to advance its Phase III candidates for chronic or small lymphocytic leukemia and for certain types of chronic myeloid leukemia.
January 22, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
FDA sign in front of its building in Maryland
Regulatory
FDA Presses Pause on Atara’s Programs, Play on Amylyx’s ALS Assets
The FDA is putting Atara’s active Investigational New Drug applications on hold due to manufacturing concerns at a third-party provider while releasing Amylyx’s investigational ALS therapy from a previous pause.
January 22, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Graphic illustration with geometric shapes and textured brush strokes of iconic Cancer awareness and prevention ribbon. Art to be used for Cancer related themes such as support, encouragement, treatment and pre-screening.
Breast cancer
AstraZeneca, Daiichi Sankyo’s ADC Wins First Approval Despite Mixed Data
Datroway, formerly known as Dato-DXd, significantly improved median progression-free survival in a Phase III study but failed to do so for overall survival.
January 21, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Nasdaq headquarters in New York/iStock,
IPO
Sionna, Odyssey Join Growing 2025 IPO Class as Analysts Forecast ‘Muted’ Market
While some analysts expect the 2025 IPO market to be relatively cool in the near-term, others anticipate more bids than in 2024.
January 21, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Art collage, hands and scales of justice. The concept of the law of the judge.
Legal
Sage Sues Partner Biogen After Unsolicited Takeover Offer
Biogen’s effort to buy Sage reveals its “desire to expand its pipeline at a discount,” according to analysts from BMO Capital Markets.
January 21, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
A piggy bank crammed with $100 bills on a background of American cash
Drug pricing
Novo’s Ozempic, Wegovy Targeted in Second Round of IRA Drug Price Negotiations
Drugmakers will have until the end of February to decide whether they want to participate in the second round of Medicare negotiations or not. CMS has until June 1 to send an initial offer for the adjusted prices.
January 17, 2025
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3 min read
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Tristan Manalac
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