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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.

Pictured: Roche tower in Basel, Switzerland
Drug Development
Roche Sees Early ROI on $2.7B Carmot Buy with Phase I Data for Obesity Candidate
Roche’s $2.7 billion acquisition of Carmot Therapeutics in December 2023 appears to be paying off as its investigational GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist induced strong weight loss in a Phase Ib study.
May 16, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Healthcare worker carrying an IV bag
Business
Galapagos Partners with Blood Centers of America to Decentralize CAR-T Production
Belgian biotech Galapagos is teaming with Blood Centers of America to help deploy its decentralized CAR-T therapy manufacturing platform closer to treatment centers across the U.S.
May 16, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Concept art showing a broken head figure
FDA
ICER Finds ‘Substantial Uncertainties’ in Lykos’ MDMA Trials Ahead of Adcomm
With a June 4 FDA advisory committee meeting looming, the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review has raised concerns about Lykos Therapeutics’ trials of its MDMA-assisted therapy in post-traumatic stress disorder.
May 16, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Bristol Myers Squibb office in California
FDA
BMS CAR-T Therapy Wins FDA Approval for Expanded Use in Follicular Lymphoma
Following back-to-back approvals in lymphocytic leukemia, Bristol Myers Squibb’s CAR-T therapy Breyanzi on Wednesday won the FDA’s green light for relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma.
May 16, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Wall sign of the Novo Nordisk Foundation and Novo Holdings in Denmark
Deals
Novo Acquires Majority Stake in Austrian Life Sciences Tools Company
While the FTC continues to review its $16.5 billion buy of Catalent, Novo Holdings announced Wednesday it has acquired a majority stake in Single Use Support, an Austrian life sciences tools company.
May 15, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Businesspeople discussing graphs during a meeting
Sands Capital Launches $555M Life Sciences Fund Focusing on Private Companies
With more than half a billion dollars in the new life sciences fund, Sands Capital is looking to finance private companies working to transform the diagnosis and treatment of diseases with large unmet medical needs.
May 15, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: FDA signage at its office in Washington, DC
Policy
FDA Delays Review by Three Months for Ascendis’ Hypoparathyroidism Therapy
Following an initial rejection in 2023, Ascendis Pharma on Tuesday said it faces another regulatory bump in the road for TransCon PTH with a three-month delay in the ongoing FDA review.
May 15, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: 3D rendering of amyloid-beta oligomers
Policy
Eisai, Biogen Launch Rolling BLA for Subcutaneous Alzheimer’s Therapy Leqembi
After missing their initial target in March 2024, Eisai and Biogen have initiated a rolling BLA for a subcutaneous maintenance formulation of Leqembi, which could offer a more convenient dosing schedule for Alzheimer’s disease patients.
May 15, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Bayer's global pharmaceuticals headquarters in Germany
Business
Bayer Cuts 1,500 Jobs and Lowers 2024 Earnings Guidance as Q1 Sales Dip
In Tuesday’s first-quarter 2024 financial results, Bayer reported a slight drop in sales amid its sweeping companywide restructuring that resulted in workforce reductions, while lowering its full-year earnings outlook.
May 14, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
AbbVie's office in South San Francisco, California
Business
AbbVie, Gilgamesh Sign Potential $2B Deal to Develop Neuroplastogens for Psychiatric Disorders
With Monday’s agreement, AbbVie joins the industry’s growing interest in next-generation psychiatric therapies and looks to leverage Gilgamesh Pharmaceuticals’ research platform to discover novel neuroplastogens.
May 14, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Ultrasound machine showing a heart scan
Drug Development
Cytokinetics’ Phase III Data Sets Up Cardiomyopathy Challenge to BMS
Cytokinetics released data Monday on aficamten, an oral small molecule inhibitor of cardiac myosin, showing it significantly boosted exercise capacity in patients with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
May 14, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Novo Nordisk's corporate headquarters in Denmark
Drug Development
Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy Sustains Weight Loss for Four Years in Two Studies
Presented at this week’s European Congress on Obesity, the two studies also demonstrate that Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy (semaglutide) provides cardiovascular benefits irrespective of starting weight and the amount of weight lost.
May 14, 2024
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3 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: French flag in front of a historical building
Policy
Sanofi, Pfizer, AstraZeneca Pledge Nearly $2.16B in Total Investments in France
The major biopharma players have promised to increase their investments in France to help boost their respective global manufacturing and R&D capabilities, with Sanofi committing more than $1 billion.
May 13, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: 3D illustration of the CRISPR-Cas9 system editing a stretch of DNA
Drug Development
Excision’s CRISPR-Based HIV Treatment Fails to Show Curative Potential in Early Study
Results from a Phase I study presented Friday at the ASGCT 2024 annual meeting showed that despite a good safety profile, Excision BioTherapeutics’ HIV gene editor failed to suppress viral activity.
May 13, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
U.S. and Chinese flags in concrete, broken in the middle
Policy
BIOSECURE Act Gets Update, Gives US Drugmakers Until 2032 to Sever Ties with Chinese Biotechs
An updated draft of the BIOSECURE Act introduced on Friday would give U.S. drug manufacturers additional leeway for existing contracts with certain Chinese “companies of concern” until 2032.
May 13, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
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