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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: 3D illustration of stem cells used for cell therapy
Neurona Raises $120M, Buoyed by Early-Stage Data for Epilepsy Cell Therapy
Neurona Therapeutics will use the funds to advance its investigational regenerative neural cell therapy NRTX-1001 for mesial temporal lobe epilepsy, the most common form of focal epilepsy.
February 9, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Nasdaq headquarters in New York/iStock,
Deals
Kyverna’s $319M Upsized IPO Is Latest in Surge of Biotechs Going Public
On Thursday, Kyverna Therapeutics is debuting on the Nasdaq with an upsized initial public offering which the biotech will use to support its pipeline of anti-CD19 CAR T therapy candidates.
February 8, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
External view of AstraZeneca's production plant in Sweden
Business
AstraZeneca Sees 6% Revenue Growth in 2023 Despite Plummeting COVID-19 Sales
Thursday’s full-year financial results from AstraZeneca showed a revenue crash of more than 90% for COVID-19 medicines, while cancer, cardiovascular and rare diseases all generated double-digit revenue growth.
February 8, 2024
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3 min read
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Tristan Manalac
The EMA's former headquarters in London
Policy
EU Regulator Investigates Potential Impacts of Novo-Catalent Deal on Drug Supply
The European Medicines Agency is looking into how Novo Holdings’ recently announced $16.5 billion acquisition of contract manufacturer Catalent might affect the availability of drugs.
February 8, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Doctor administers eye drops to a boy/iS
Drug Development
Eyedrop Version of Krystal’s Gene Therapy Vyjuvek Restores Sight in Teen
Under the FDA’s compassionate use program, an eyedrop formulation of Krystal Biotech’s Vyjuvek restored the vision of a teenager with the rare genetic disease dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa.
February 8, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictures (left to right): Tadd Wessel, Samuel Hall
Industry Veterans Launch $310M VC Fund for Biotech Startups
Venture capital firm Scion Life Sciences, led by investors Samuel Hall, Aaron Kantoff and Tadd Wessel, seeks to establish biotechs through to maturity as late- or commercial-stage companies.
February 7, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Eli Lilly's biotechnology center in San Diego, California
Business
Lilly to Boost Manufacturing Capacity to Support Weight-Loss Pill Candidate
Eli Lilly on Tuesday said it is already making manufacturing investments for orforglipron, its next-generation oral weight-loss candidate that recently moved into Phase III development.
February 7, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Gilead's corporate headquarters in Silicon Valley
Drug Development
Gilead’s Q4 Revenue Slips on Weaker HIV and COVID-19 Sales, Amid Phase III Flops
Hit with lower sales of its COVID-19 antiviral Veklury and the weak performance of its HIV franchise, Gilead Sciences reported a 4% year-over-year revenue loss in the fourth quarter of 2023.
February 7, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Magnetic resonance imaging scans of the brain
Business
Eisai to Likely Miss Patient Goal for Leqembi by End of March 2024
Thanks to a rough launch of its Biogen-partnered Alzheimer’s disease treatment, Eisai will likely miss its target of treating 10,000 patients with Leqembi by the end of March 2024.
February 7, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Entrance to Vertex's office in Boston, Massachusetts
Drug Development
Vertex’s Cystic Fibrosis Triple Combo Aces Pivotal Phase III Program
The company’s three-drug combination met all primary and key secondary endpoints in two randomized controlled trials in cystic fibrosis patients, paving the way for an application to regulators.
February 6, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: GSK's office in Poznan, Poland/iStock, W
Drug Development
GSK’s Blenrep Combo Scores Phase III Win in Multiple Myeloma
The antibody-drug conjugate, in combination with Takeda’s Velcade and the steroid dexamethasone, reduced the risk of death and disease progression by 59% versus a similar Darzalex-based regimen.
February 6, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Novartis' office building in Marburg, Germany
Deals
Novartis Boosts Cancer Business with $2.9B MorphoSys Buy
The Swiss pharma’s dealmaking momentum continues in early 2024 with the acquisition of German biotech MorphoSys in an effort to strengthen its oncology portfolio.
February 6, 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 Holdings Buys CDMO Catalent for $16.5B to Boost Semaglutide Supply
The investment arm of the Novo Nordisk Foundation is acquiring contract development and manufacturing organization Catalent to help meet high demand for Ozempic and Wegovy.
February 5, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: A muscle pattern dissolving/Nicole Bean
Business
Regeneron Looks to Target Weight Loss Market with Muscle-Preserving Antibodies
The biotech is taking a synergistic approach to obesity with two muscle-preserving antibodies set to enter a Phase II study in mid-2024 in combination with existing incretin-based treatments.
February 5, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Healthcare worker conducting an eye exam
Drug Development
4DMT’s Experimental Gene Therapy Cuts Eylea Use in Phase II Wet AMD Trial
Topline results from a mid-stage study show that 4D Molecular Therapeutics’ investigational gene therapy cut annual rates of Eylea injections by 85% and 89% for the low and high doses, respectively.
February 5, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
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