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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.

2006 James Gathany Captured by James Gathany, Centers for Disease Control's biomedical photographer, this 2006 image depicted the exterior of the new "Tom Harkin Global Communications Center", otherwise known as Building 19, located on the organization's Roybal Campus in Atlanta, Georgia. The facility houses the CDC's Information Center/Library, auditoria and meeting halls, which are used to accommodate in-house staff meetings, and national/international conferences hosted by the CDC, and the National Center for Health Marketing's, Division of Creative Services, which includes a full service television broadcast facility. The exhibit area currently features the "Global Symphony", the first of several permanently installed exhibitions, and changing exhibitions that focus on a variety of public health topics. The exhibits in the Center are self-guided, and require no advance reservations. Additional curriculum-based exhibits and programming will be added in the future. Tom Harkin Global Communications Center Exhibit Area Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - 1600 Clifton Road, N.E., Atlanta, Georgia 30333 - Hours: Monday – Friday, 9 am – 5 pm, except for federal holidays Admission is free - Government-issue photo ID is required for entry. Please note that CDC is a working federal facility and as such does not provide public tours of its campus and laboratories. - For more information please call 404-639-0830.
Vaccines
ACIP Meeting Delayed Indefinitely; COVID-19 Vaccines Continue To Show Benefit in New Study
The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices was scheduled to convene Oct. 22 to 23, but this meeting has been postponed, with no new date specified. The delay comes as the VA published new research showing that COVID-19 shots prevented hospitalizations and death.
October 9, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Illustration showing large scissors cutting employees in half
Layoffs
Ferring’s Shift to New Business Model Claims 500 Jobs Worldwide
The layoffs are part of the company’s shift to a new structure enabling cost efficiency for its new model.
October 9, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Modern design with a positive context, a handshake. Concept of help, support and harmony between adults. Modern art collage, trendy magazine style.
Mergers & acquisitions
Zenas Bets $2B+ in Autoimmune Agreement With Chinese Firm InnoCare
The centerpiece of the deal is orelabrutinib, a BTK inhibitor in late-stage development for multiple sclerosis that Biogen once paid $125 million for but abandoned after less than two years of testing.
October 8, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Boehringer Ingelheim sign on a building/
Approvals
Boehringer Ingelheim Breaks Decade-Long Approval Drought in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
In the Phase III FIBRONEER-IPF study, Jascayd demonstrated significant lung capacity improvements over placebo.
October 8, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Messenger RNA or mRNA strand 3D rendering illustration with copy space. Genetics, science, medical research, genome replication concepts.
Government
Despite mRNA Vaccine Pullback, HHS Awards $48M for Kernal’s mRNA CAR T Program
The $48 million award, granted through the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health, will help Kernal take its in vivo mRNA-encoded CAR T therapy forward.
October 8, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
a hand with a lit match lighting another match
IPOs
UPDATE: MapLight Seeks $227M IPO for Neuropsych Portfolio
MapLight laid out the terms of its planned IPO in a regulatory filing on Monday, providing greater detail about what the funds will be used for.
October 7, 2025
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3 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Auction concept: Hands holding paddle with numbers
Mergers & acquisitions
Pfizer Beat Out Two Other Metsera Suitors for Takeover
Of the three highest bidders, Pfizer’s purchase proposal for Metsera was the lowest, regulatory documents reveal. The New York pharma, however, offered the smoothest transaction with the greatest likelihood of success.
October 7, 2025
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3 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Connecting puzzle pieces. Art collage.
Obesity
Skye’s CB1 Inhibitor Shows ‘Intriguing Synergy’ With Wegovy, Despite Mid-Stage Obesity Fail
Skye Bioscience’s nimacimab fell short of investor and company expectations, but showed encouraging weight-loss results when combined with Wegovy, according to analysts at William Blair.
October 7, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Amgen's office in Massachusetts/iStock,
Drug pricing
Amgen Hops on DTC Train To Offer Repatha at 60% Discount
Amgen will offer its lipid-lowering drug Repatha directly to patients for $239 per month, representing a nearly 60% reduction from the current wholesale acquisition cost of $527.70.
October 7, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Facade of AstraZeneca's office in Shanghai, China
Artificial intelligence
AstraZeneca Makes Another AI Deal With $555M Algen Alliance
AstraZeneca has invested heavily in AI, primarily through collaborations, including an up to $5.3 billion partnership with China’s CSPC Pharmaceutical in June.
October 6, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Washington, D.C., USA- January 13, 2020: FDA Sign at its headquarters in Washington DC. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or USFDA) is a federal agency of the USA.
Manufacturing
FDA Continues US Manufacturing Drive With Domestic Generics Pilot
This latest FDA program aims to provide speedier reviews for generic drugmakers who produce their products in the U.S.
October 6, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Space rocket crashed and on fire. Business failure, failed startup. Downfall of ambitious plans, flawed execution, or crisis outcomes. Volatility of startups, financial risks, or unexpected setbacks.
Gene therapy
Rocket Aborts FDA Filing for Rare Blood Disease Gene Therapy
Rocket Pharmaceuticals’ strategic realignment initiative in July pulled funding from fanca-cel, which the biotech was developing for Fanconi anemia.
October 6, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Two human hands with a gesture of a handshake agreement and dollar banknotes with dollar signs on a colored background. Concept of business contract or agreement. Collage art
Mergers & acquisitions
Chiesi, Arbor Weave $2.1B Rare Disease Pact
The centerpiece of the collaboration is the gene editor ABO-101, being developed for primary hyperoxaluria type 1, a rare disease that leads to severe kidney stones.
October 6, 2025
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1 min read
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Tristan Manalac
NIAID Director Dr. Jeanne Marrazzo addresses staff. She is wearing a black and white shirt, black pants, and round glasses.
Regulatory
Fired NIAID Director Claims Ouster Was Payback for Whistleblower Report
Jeanne Marrazzo, former director of the National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Disease, was formally terminated Thursday after months on administrative leave, after filing a whistleblower report.
October 3, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Stack of coins balancing on seesaw over a bottle of pills.
Drug pricing
CMS Finalizes Stronger Protections for Orphan Drugs Against IRA Price Negotiations
Expanded exemptions for orphan drugs could mean prolonged protections for top-selling drugs like Merck’s Keytruda, which was initially approved under this designation in 2014.
October 3, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
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