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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.

Creative pattern made with a syringe on pastel pink background. Vaccine for Coronavirus infection. Pandemic concept.
Government
FDA Makes Flu Vaccine Recommendations Without Convening Advisors
The recommendations were made in a closed session with representatives from CBER, the CDC and Department of Defense.
March 14, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Amgen sign at its headquarters in Thousand Oaks, California, USA.
Autoimmune disease
Amgen’s Uplizna Deepens Response Against Myasthenia Gravis at 1 Year
With what analysts are calling “strong” data, Amgen plans to file a regulatory submission for Uplizna, currently approved for a rare ocular autoimmune disorder, in myasthenia gravis, in the first half of 2025.
March 13, 2025
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1 min read
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Tristan Manalac
A human hand showing dollar golden coins in the jar with a colored background. Collage Art of finance
Manufacturing
J&J, Legend Pump $150M Into Manufacturing in Bid to Double Carvykti Production
Johnson & Johnson and Legend Biotech hope to hit blockbuster status for Carvykti this year.
March 13, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Illustration of two arrows merging into one
Mergers & acquisitions
Troubled Drugmakers Mallinckrodt, Endo Officially Announce $6.7B Merger
Both Mallinckrodt and Endo have previously declared bankruptcy, linked to opioid-related lawsuits.
March 13, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Businessman holding a dart aiming at the target - business targeting, aiming, focus concept. Art collage.
Infectious disease
Gilead, GSK-ViiV Move Ahead With Long-Acting HIV Options Following Early-Stage Readouts
Gilead plans to go straight to Phase III studies for once-yearly lenacapavir, while GSK and ViiV will push forward with their long-acting antivirals after touting positive early-stage results.
March 12, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Merck building and sign in Silicon Valley
Vaccines
Good Day for Gardasil as Merck Wins Safety Suit, Drops $1B for Manufacturing Push
According to Judge Kenneth Bell, there is a lack of evidence to conclude that Merck willingly misrepresented the safety of its HPV vaccine Gardasil to patients and prescribers.
March 12, 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.
Weight loss
Roche Makes Another Obesity Play With Potential $5.3B Amylin Pact With Zealand
Roche and Zealand plan to study petrelintide as a monotherapy and in combination with CT-388, a dual agonist of the GLP-1 and GIP receptors that Roche picked up in its recent acquisition of Carmot Therapeutics.
March 12, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
A contemporary artistic collage depicting a hand holding pills, passing them to another hand. The concept of medication and treatment.
Collaboration
Ionis Sends Polycythemia Vera Drug to Ono in Licensing Deal Worth Nearly $1B Biobucks
Ionis will receive $280 million upfront and could get up to $660 million in future milestone payments. Ono will take charge of late-stage development as well as regulatory and commercialization activities.
March 12, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Entrance to Pfizer's office in Belgium
Breast cancer
Pfizer, Arvinas Post Mixed Late-Stage Breast Cancer Data for Closely Watched PROTAC Drug
Vepdegestrant did not improve progression-free survival broadly but saw improvements in one specific patient cohort. Arvinas’ stock took a 43% tumble on the news, and analysts are downcast on the drug’s prospects.
March 11, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Dollar banknote cut into pieces on a yellow background
Gene therapy
Roche Absorbs $2.4B Impairment in Overhaul of Spark Gene Therapy Unit
Roche acquired Spark Therapeutics in 2019 for $4.8 billion.
March 11, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
2D illustration showing scientists' hands editing a DNA strand
Gene editing
Beam’s Gene Editor Achieves ‘First Ever’ Genetic Correction in AATD
BEAM-302 “has set the bar for efficacy in this space,” William Blair analysts wrote in an investor note on Monday.
March 11, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Trendy halftone collage. Concept of contracting, negotiation, contracting, favorable terms. Trendy modern retro illustration on business theme. Concept of teamwork. Vector illustration
Mergers & acquisitions
BMS Buys Abecma Partner 2seventy for $286M, Ending Cost Sharing Agreement
Abecma made $406 million in 2024, of which BMS paid $43 million to 2seventy bio as part of their profit-sharing agreement.
March 11, 2025
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3 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Novo Nordisk's office in Fremont, California
Weight loss
Novo Dips After CagriSema’s Latest Lower-Than-Expected Weight Loss Readout
The latest data showed 15.7% weight loss in patients with diabetes after 68 weeks. In December 2024, CagriSema returned another disappointing readout for Novo, eliciting weight-loss of 22.7% in patients without diabetes, below the pharma’s prior projection of 25%.
March 10, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
External view of Bristol Myers Squibb's office California
Immunology and inflammation
BMS’ Sotyktu Notches Phase III Win in Psoriatic Arthritis
In the plaque psoriasis arena, Sotyktu is facing off against Amgen’s Otezla and is facing the threat of upcoming competition from Alumis’ investigational TYK2 inhibitor.
March 10, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Employee competency assessment. Collage of hands holding king and a pawn. Succession planning.
Immunology and inflammation
J&J’s Oral IL-23R Blocker Sets New Standard in Plaque Psoriasis, Beating BMS’ Sotyktu
Late-stage data also showed that Johnson & Johnson’s icotrokinra was superior to Bristol Myers Squibb’s Sotyktu at clearing skin and easing symptom severity in patients with plaque psoriasis.
March 10, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
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