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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: 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
Pictured: FDA sign at its office in Washington, DC/iStock, JHVEPhoto
Policy
FDA Sets Adcomm for BMS, J&J CAR T Therapies Amid Class-Wide Safety Concerns
The FDA’s Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee will meet on March 15 to discuss BMS and J&J applications for their CAR T-cell therapies Abecma and Carvykti, respectively.
February 5, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Nasdaq signage and building in New York City
Deals
Alto, Fractyl Go Public in Back-to-Back Offerings as IPO Market Heats Up
Alto Neuroscience and Fractyl Health provided further momentum to the recent spate of biotech initial public offerings, with both companies going public on Friday morning in respective $128 million and $110 million IPOs.
February 2, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: IPO concept art showing stacks of coins
Deals
Kyverna Looks to Go Public, Raise $182M Amid Surge in Biotech IPOs
Kyverna Therapeutics, the fifth biotech with plans for an initial public offering this year, will use the proceeds to support the development of its anti-CD19 CAR-T therapies for autoimmune diseases.
February 2, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Sign of U.S. Department of Health & Huma
Policy
CMS Sends Initial Medicare Drug Price Proposals to Companies
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on Thursday sent its opening price proposals to drugmakers, which now have 30 days to either approve the offers or submit counteroffers.
February 2, 2024
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3 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Blue Sanofi sign on building in Germany at night
Business
Sanofi Hit with $600M Net Loss in Q4 Amid Generic Competition
Despite strong sales of its blockbuster drug Dupixent, Sanofi on Thursday reported that its fourth-quarter 2023 operating income dropped 5% due to a weaker U.S. dollar, high expenses and generic competition.
February 1, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Bar and line graphs showing increasing t
Business
Daiichi Sankyo Again Raises Enhertu Sales Forecast Driven by Non-US Growth
Buoyed by its strong performance outside of the U.S. market, Daiichi Sankyo on Wednesday again raised its sales expectations for the blockbuster antibody-drug conjugate.
February 1, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Stacks of dollar bills/iStock, mirza kad
Policy
IRA’s Impact on Industry Revenues, R&D Will Be Modest: Study
The Inflation Reduction Act’s Drug Price Negotiation Program will erode only a small portion of global biopharma revenues and is unlikely to cause significant cuts to research and development, find researchers.
February 1, 2024
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3 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Facade of Novartis building in Switzerland
Drug Development
Novartis Drops TIM-3 Blood Cancer Asset After Flop, Posts Disappointing Q4 Results
The Swiss pharma’s fourth-quarter sales fell short of analysts’ estimates on Wednesday, as the company said it dropped a late-stage blood cancer hopeful after failing a Phase III study.
January 31, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Entrance to the U.S. Department of Healt
Policy
CMS to Negotiate Medicaid Outcomes-Based Agreements for Sickle Cell Gene Therapies
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will enter talks with manufacturers to come up with a pricing and rebate scheme that will tie the gene therapies’ cost with their effectiveness.
January 31, 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 Hits Defender with Complete Response Letter, Rejects Motion Sickness Gel
Defender Pharmaceuticals on Tuesday did not reveal the reasons for the regulator’s rejection of its nasal gel version of scopolamine. The company is seeking a meeting with the FDA to “understand the issues.”
January 31, 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 Secures Three Phase III Wins for Non-Opioid Pain Candidate, Plans NDA
After VX-548 demonstrated significant pain relief in surgical and non-surgical settings, Vertex Pharmaceuticals is preparing to file a New Drug Application for the non-opioid candidate by mid-2024.
January 30, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Sign of U.S. Department of Health & Huma
Policy
Analysts Expect CMS to Ask for Steep Drug Discounts in Initial IRA Proposal: Reuters
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ initial proposed drug price cuts, due to pharma companies by Thursday under the Inflation Reduction Act, could range from 25% to 60%, analysts told Reuters.
January 30, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: WHO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland/
Drug Development
Shortage of GLP-1 RAs Tied to Rise in Counterfeit Products: WHO
The persistent shortage of genuine glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonist products has led to an increase in fake versions, the World Health Organization warned on Monday.
January 30, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: BMS sign on a building in San Diego, California/iStock, JHVEPhoto
Drug Development
BMS’s Opdivo Fails for Second Time in Late-Stage Kidney Cancer Trial
Bristol Myers Squibb’s PD-1 inhibitor was unable to outperform the placebo arm in improving disease-free survival in renal cell carcinoma patients at high risk of relapse after surgery.
January 29, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
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