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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.

Human head with puzzle pieces and doodles vector illustration. Human brain lacking a piece of puzzle. Concept of brain function, memory loss, disorder, dementia. Abstract human head profile
Neuropsychiatric disorders
Alector Scraps Dementia Drug After Phase III Flop, Lays Off 49% of Staff
This represents Alector’s second failed neurodegenerative asset in a year, after an AbbVie-partnered asset missed in Alzheimer’s last November. On latozinemab for frontotemporal dementia, Alector was working with GSK, which fronted $700 million in 2021 to collaborate on two programs.
October 22, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
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Cell therapy
Galapagos Exits Cell Therapy, Cuts 365 Employees
Galapagos at the start of the year had planned to split into two businesses, with one resulting entity focused on cell therapies. The biotech nixed these plans a few months later, instead choosing to put up for sale multiple cell therapy assets.
October 21, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Illustration showing businessman trying to create his own road
Cancer
Exelixis’ Kinase Blocker Sets ‘New Survival Bar’ in Third-Line Colorectal Cancer, Opening Road to FDA
With data from the Phase III STELLAR-303 study in the books, Exelixis is plotting a 2025 regulatory application for zanzalintinib.
October 21, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
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Lung cancer
Summit Eyes 2025 FDA Application for Ivonescimab Despite Overall Survival Miss
In May, Summit released early data from the Phase III HARMONi study showing that while the PD-1/VEGF inhibitor resulted in significant progression-free survival improvements, it fell short of the overall survival bar.
October 21, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
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Metabolic disorders
Ascendis Skids as FDA Detects Death in Patient Formerly on Yorvipath
The death occurred in a patient who had a complex medical background and who was being managed with several drugs, according to RBC Capital.
October 21, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
3D Paper Cut Pair of Lung dotted with yellow tumor bacteria infection spread across on a blue background with no text. Yellow dots as virus infection in the lungs. Vector Illustration.
Lung cancer
Akeso, Summit’s PD-1/VEGF Blocker ‘Firmly’ Beats Expectations With Encouraging Survival Data
Ivonescimab’s progression-free survival data in non-small cell lung cancer bode well for an upcoming overall survival readout, according to Truist analysts, who noted that “OS is likely to be statistically significant” in favor of the PD-1/VEGF bispecific.
October 20, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
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Mergers & acquisitions
Rumors of Eli Lilly Buyout Send Nektar’s Shares Spiking
Several sources are speculating that the potential buyer could be Eli Lilly, despite the breakdown of the pharma’s partnership with Nektar over atopic dermatitis therapy rezpeg.
October 20, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
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Approvals
Novo Secures Cardiovascular Expansion for Semaglutide Pill
Rybelsus can now be used as a primary or secondary prevention pill to lower the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in at-risk patients with type 2 diabetes.
October 20, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Scanner on blue human eye
Rare diseases
Glaukos Notches FDA Nod for Rare Eye Disorder Keratoconus
Glaukos’ Epioxa allows cross-linking therapy for keratoconus without requiring an incision. The biotech expects to launch the drug early next year.
October 20, 2025
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1 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pleasanton, CA, USA - Feb 21, 2024: Exterior view of the headquarters of Roche Molecular Diagnostics (RMD) in Pleasanton, California. F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG is a Swiss pharmaceutical company.
Antibody-drug conjugate (ADC)
Roche Inks Another China ADC Pact With $1.5B Hansoh Bet
Roche will gain worldwide rights outside of the Greater China region to Hansoh’s HS-20110, an antibody-drug conjugate in early-stage development for colorectal cancer.
October 17, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
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Regulatory
FDA Hands Out First Commissioner’s Priority Vouchers to Regeneron, Sanofi, Disc, Others
The Commissioner’s National Priority Voucher awards companies that align with specific national priorities—such as boosting domestic manufacturing and lowering drug prices—with faster reviews and more frequent interactions with the FDA.
October 17, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
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Collaboration
Kite Makes $1.5B+ Cell Therapy Pact With Pregene as Others Pull Back
With more than $1.5 billion on the line, Gilead looks to bolster its CAR T portfolio.
October 17, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
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Drug pricing
In Affordability Push, EMD Serono Joins TrumpRx While Roche Launches DTC Program
EMD Serono will offer its fertility treatments on TrumpRx at a steep discount, and Roche’s direct-to-consumer offering will cover its flu pill Xofluza.
October 17, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Gentilly, France, March 21, 2021: Exterior view of the Sanofi headquarters building. Sanofi is a French multinational company specializing in the health sector
Autoimmune disease
Sanofi Joins With EVOQ in $500M Autoimmune Alliance
The partners have yet to disclose what their priority indications are, though EVOQ’s NanoDisc technology aims to enable the development of potentially curative treatments for autoimmune conditions such as celiac disease and type 1 diabetes.
October 16, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
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Government
FDA’s Orphan Drug Director Out Amid IRA Exemption Rollout
An unnamed source clarified that Sandra Retzky has not been fired from the FDA, but it remains unclear where she was reassigned.
October 16, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
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