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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: Gloved hand holding a rabies vaccine syringe
Drug Development
YS Biopharma’s Rabies Vaccine Outperforms Commercial Competitor in Phase III Trial
Late-stage study results released Tuesday show YS Biopharma’s rabies vaccine candidate can induce twice the seroconversion rate at seven days versus a standard, globally marketed comparator.
April 10, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Man prepares his GLP-1 receptor agonist injection
Drug Development
GLP-1s Like Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic Do Not Increase Thyroid Cancer Risk: Study
A new Scandinavian study published Wednesday found no conclusive evidence to support the link between GLP-1 receptor agonists and an increased risk of thyroid cancer.
April 10, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Pfizer's signage outside its office in Canada/iStock, JHVEPhoto
Drug Development
Pfizer Eyes Broader Label for RSV Vaccine Abrysvo After Promising Phase III Data
Pfizer’s respiratory syncytial virus vaccine Abrysvo is just as effective in younger adults aged 18 to 59 years as it is in the shot’s currently approved population of 60 years of age and older.
April 9, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
The EMA's former headquarters in London
Policy
EMA to Review Diabetes and Weight-Loss Drugs for Suicidal Ideation Risk
As part of its ongoing review, the European Medicines Agency this week is slated to examine the potential risks of suicidal ideation and self-harm associated with diabetes and weight-loss treatments.
April 9, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
AbbVie's office in South San Francisco, California
AbbVie’s Humira Loses Only 4% of Market Share to Biosimilars: Report
Even with discounts that reach as high as 86%, Humira biosimilars are finding it difficult to take market share away from the AbbVie blockbuster, according to a new report from Samsung Bioepis.
April 9, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Merck's office in South San Francisco, California
Deals
Merck Snaps Up Small Startup in $208M Deal, Seeks to Improve Safety of ADCs
As the antibody-drug conjugate space continues to heat up, Merck has acquired preclinical startup Abceutics—spun out of the University at Buffalo—and its novel platform that aims to make ADC therapeutics safer.
April 8, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Illustration of red blood cells
Drug Development
ACC24 Roundup: Novo, Ionis Tout Cardio Victories and Boehringer, Lilly Disappoint
Novo Nordisk and Ionis Pharmaceuticals unveiled promising respective data at the American College of Cardiology’s Annual Scientific Session, while Boehringer Ingelheim and Eli Lilly’s Jardiance missed the endpoint in a myocardial infarction study.
April 8, 2024
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5 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Bristol Myers Squibb office in California
Drug Development
BMS Sees Early ROI for $14B Karuna Buy with Phase III Schizophrenia Win
Fresh off of its $14 billion acquisition of Karuna Therapeutics, Bristol Myers Squibb on Saturday reported promising late-stage data for Karuna’s antipsychotic KarXT, which elicited significant symptomatic improvement in schizophrenia symptoms.
April 8, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: FDA signage at its office in Washington, DC
FDA
AstraZeneca, Daiichi Sankyo Win First Tumor-Agnostic HER2 FDA Approval for Enhertu
AstraZeneca and Daiichi Sankyo’s antibody-drug conjugate Enhertu is the first FDA-approved tumor-agnostic HER2-targeted therapy authorized for the treatment of solid tumors in adults who have undergone prior systemic treatment.
April 8, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: AstraZeneca's building in Shanghai, China
Drug Development
AstraZeneca’s Imfinzi Clinches Late-Stage Victory in Aggressive Lung Cancer
Following disappointing Phase III results in less aggressive non-small cell lung cancer, AstraZeneca on Friday announced that Imfinzi improved progression-free and overall survival in patients with limited-stage small cell lung cancer.
April 5, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Merck Research Laboratories in South San Francisco, California
Drug Development
Merck Launches Phase III Study for KRAS Hopeful, Eyes Challenge to Amgen and BMS
Seeking a potential slice of the challenging KRAS market, Merck has launched a Phase III NSCLC trial of its oral G12C inhibitor MK-1084, in combination with Keytruda, in pursuit of Amgen and Bristol Myers Squibb.
April 5, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Facade of Novartis building in Switzerland
Drug Development
Novartis to File for Pluvicto Label Expansion After Promising Phase III Data
Following clearer overall survival data from the PSMAfore trial, Novartis on Thursday affirmed plans to file for a prostate cancer label expansion for its targeted radioligand therapy Pluvicto later this year.
April 5, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Boehringer Ingelheim's office in California
Business
Boehringer Ingelheim Cuts Staff Due to Low Humira Biosimilar Sales: Reuters
Due to slow uptake of its Humira biosimilar Cyltezo in the U.S., Boehringer Ingelheim is laying off an undisclosed number of its sales employees, Reuters reported on Thursday.
April 5, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Illustration showing a neuron being destroyed
Business
Amylyx to Pull ALS Drug Relyvrio From US, Canada Markets After Phase III Fail
Following disappointing late-stage data, Amylyx on Thursday said it is withdrawing the company’s amyotrophic lateral sclerosis drug Relyvrio from the U.S. and Canadian markets and cutting its workforce by approximately 70%.
April 4, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Facade of Moderna's building in Massachusetts
Policy
Judge Rules Against Moderna in COVID-19 Patent Fight with Roivant Subsidiary
A Delaware judge on Wednesday agreed with Roivant subsidiary Arbutus and Genevant’s interpretation of specific patent claims regarding the lipid nanoparticle delivery system used by Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine.
April 4, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
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