SUBSCRIBE
SUBSCRIBE
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: 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
 · 
2 min read
 · 
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
 · 
2 min read
 · 
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
 · 
2 min read
 · 
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
 · 
3 min read
 · 
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
 · 
2 min read
 · 
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
 · 
2 min read
 · 
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
 · 
2 min read
 · 
Tristan Manalac
Fashionable halftones collage. Startup business concept,fast business startup. Trendy modern retro illustration in bright trendy colors. Strategic planning concept and business success. Vector illustration
Immunology and inflammation
Amgen, Kyowa Kirin’s Rocatinlimab Picks Up Steam With Late-Stage Atopic Dermatitis Win
In September 2024, a readout from a separate trial of rocatinlimab elicited mixed reactions from analysts, who found the antibody’s efficacy in that study to be underwhelming.
March 10, 2025
 · 
2 min read
 · 
Tristan Manalac
A scientist with pill bottles in front of FDA headquarters
Regulatory
FDA Action Alert: GSK, Alnylam, Sanofi and More
On the agenda for the FDA this month are two RNA-based treatments for rare diseases.
March 10, 2025
 · 
7 min read
 · 
Tristan Manalac
Pictured: AstraZeneca's manufacturing facility in
Stomach cancer
AstraZeneca Builds Stomach Cancer Case for Imfinzi With Strong Phase III Data
Imfinzi is one of AstraZeneca’s key growth drivers for 2025, with potential approvals in stomach and bladder cancers. The PD-L1 blocker brought in over $4.7 billion in sales last year.
March 7, 2025
 · 
2 min read
 · 
Tristan Manalac
Contemporary art collage showing a hand giving a thumbs down surrounded by red arrows pointing down, concept of negative feedback and bad review
Regulatory
Biogen, Eisai’s Leqembi Suffers Overseas Setbacks as UK Denies Coverage, Australia Denies Approval
Days after suffering a rejection in Australia, the Alzheimer’s drug hit another roadblock in the U.K., which found the drug not cost-effective.
March 7, 2025
 · 
2 min read
 · 
Tristan Manalac
Marty Makary speaks on a panel at the New America Foundation
Government
Makary Shows Soft Support for FDA Vaccines Committee at Confirmation Hearing
Analysts at Jefferies see Makary as a positive for the rare disease space, given his support for accelerated approvals and openness to “customizing regulatory pathways for rare diseases.”
March 7, 2025
 · 
2 min read
 · 
Tristan Manalac
Pictured: J&J's office in Madrid, Spain
Depression
J&J Axes Late-Stage Depression Trial After Underwhelming Efficacy
Analysts do not believe the Phase III stumble for aticaprant will derail J&J’s broader neuroscience strategy, particularly given its recent $14.6 billion acquisition of Intra-Cellular Therapeutics and the success of Spravato for treatment-resistant depression.
March 7, 2025
 · 
2 min read
 · 
Tristan Manalac
Hand holding a nasal spray bottle against a white background
Approvals
ARS Wins FDA Approval for Neffy Spray for Children in Anaphylaxis
Neffy 1 mg is the “first significant innovation” for epinephrine delivery in small children aged 4 years and up in over 35 years, according to ARS Pharmaceuticals.
March 6, 2025
 · 
2 min read
 · 
Tristan Manalac
Capitol in Washington
Government
Anxious Industry Awaits Makary’s Hearing Amid Disruptions, Layoffs at FDA
The Senate hearing for FDA Commissioner nominee Marty Makary comes after President Trump’s NIH pick, Jay Bhattacharya, was grilled by the legislative body on Wednesday.
March 6, 2025
 · 
2 min read
 · 
Tristan Manalac
Load More