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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.

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Mergers & acquisitions
Jazz Expands Cancer Expertise With $935M Chimerix Buy
At the heart of the deal is the drug candidate dordaviprone, which is months away from a regulatory verdict for its use in H3 K27M-mutated diffuse glioma.
March 5, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Sign outside BioNTech's building in Germany
Vaccines
FDA Pauses Study of BioNTech’s Malaria Shot as Problems for Vaccine Space Mount
The vaccine space has been battered by strong headwinds in recent weeks, including high-level disruptions to FDA and CDC advisory committee meetings.
March 5, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Illustration of two hands, one thumbs up and one thumbs down
Mergers & acquisitions
Acelyrin Rejects Concentra’s Buyout Offer in Favor of Alumis Merger
Acelyrin and Alumis plan to close their merger in the second quarter of 2025, pending clearances and shareholder approval.
March 5, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Man hand with magnifying glass. Yellow ray coming from loupe. Conducting check, information search and analysis concept. Spy, accountant, auditor job in abstract style. High quality photo
Regulatory
Novo, Sanofi Hit With Anti-Competitive Probe in South Africa: Bloomberg
The last few years have been tough for the insulin market, with recent policies and high-level pressure forcing companies to lower drug prices.
March 5, 2025
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2 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
Drug pricing
10 Best-Selling Drugs of 2024 Rake in Billions Amid Exclusivity Threats
Merck’s Keytruda holds on to the top spot while AbbVie’s Humira—once the world’s top-selling drug—continues to cede its market share to biosimilar competitors.
March 5, 2025
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11 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Roche's tower in Shanghai, China
Approvals
Roche Continues Regulatory Run With Acute Stroke Expansion for Heart Attack Drug
TNKase is the first stroke drug to win FDA approval in nearly three decades.
March 4, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Signage at Pfizer's world headquarters in New York City
Manufacturing
Pfizer Prepared to Reshore Manufacturing if Trump Makes Good on Tariff Threats
Last week, Eli Lilly also responded to the President’s tariff warnings by investing $27 billion to construct four manufacturing facilities across the U.S. in five years.
March 4, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
A white blood cell charging an ADC/
Antibody-drug conjugate (ADC)
AstraZeneca and Daiichi Sankyo’s Enhertu Enhances Stomach Cancer Case With Phase III Win
The partners are pushing to expand Enhertu’s list of indications beyond its standing uses in breast, lung and gastric cancers.
March 4, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Business consultant. Hands help a businessman is falling from a graph vector
Neuropsychiatric disorders
Biohaven Disappoints Again, This Time in Phase II/III Bipolar Mania Trial
Biohaven in recent months has reported a clinical stumble in spinal muscular atrophy, alongside a Phase I readout for its protein degrader candidate that investors found underwhelming.
March 4, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
AbbVie's office in South San Francisco, California
Obesity
Obesity Late-Comer AbbVie Inks up to $2.2B Amylin Deal With Gubra
AbbVie is joining the amylin arena, though the pharma is still far behind leaders Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly.
March 3, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
The EMA's former headquarters in London
Europe
Biogen, Eisai Continue Leqembi’s European Rally as CHMP Reaffirms Positive Opinion
Leqembi’s application now moves forward to the European Commission, which will issue a formal verdict for the injection that will apply to all EU member states as well as Norway, Liechtenstein and Iceland.
March 3, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Beautiful colorful unpeeled peanut pattern on a light blue background. Flat lay arrangement, top view.
Immunology and inflammation
First Head-to-Head Study Cements Roche’s Xolair as Food Allergy Leader
Roche’s asthma drug Xolair appears to be safer and more effective than oral immunotherapy at treating adults and children with one or more food allergies.
March 3, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Human Nose Like Worker Is Going To Work. Vector Collage Illustration Against The Background Of The City
Immunology and inflammation
AstraZeneca, Amgen’s Phase III Win Strengthens Case for Tezspire Expansion
The partners are building toward a regulatory submission for Tezspire in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps in the first half of 2025.
March 3, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Eli Lilly's headquarters in Indianapolis
Collaboration
Lilly Hops On Hot Molecular Glue Train With $1.2B+ Magnet Deal
The molecular glue space has attracted several Big Pharma players over the past few years, including Novo Nordisk, Pfizer and Novartis.
February 28, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
3D illustration of an RNA molecule
Cardiovascular disease
Silence Quiets Phase III Pace for Lipoprotein Drug, Seeks Partner
The search for a partner for zerlasiran is ongoing, according to Silence. In the meantime, the biotech will focus its resources on divesiran, which it is testing for polycythemia vera and other hematologic indications.
February 28, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
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