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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: Businessmen shaking hands after closing a deal
Business
Coherus Offloads Lucentis Biosimilar to Sandoz for $170M in Pivot to Oncology
Novartis spin-off Sandoz will make an upfront cash payment for the entire Cimerli ophthalmology franchise, including inventories, software and sales and reimbursement teams.
January 23, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Bristol Myers Squibb office in California
Drug Development
BMS Builds First-Line Case for Opdivo-Yervoy Combo in mCRC with Phase III Data
The immunotherapy combination reduced the risk of disease progression or death by 79% versus chemotherapy in certain metastatic colorectal cancer patients, according to Bristol Myers Squibb.
January 22, 2024
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: J&J's building in Switzerland
FDA
J&J Secures Full FDA Approval for Bladder Cancer Drug Balversa
Johnson & Johnson’s small molecule FGFR kinase inhibitor is now indicated for patients with susceptible FGFR3 mutations who progressed after at least one line of systemic therapy.
January 22, 2024
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Amgen's office in Tampa, Florida
Policy
Amgen’s Osteoporosis Drug Gets FDA Boxed Warning for Hypocalcemia Risk
The regulator concluded that Prolia (denosumab) increases the risk of severe hypocalcemia, which may result in hospitalization and could trigger life-threatening events or even lead to death.
January 22, 2024
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Tristan Manalac
External view of the U.S. Capitol building
Policy
Senator Sanders Warns J&J, Merck CEOs Could Be Subpoenaed on Drug Pricing
The pharma execs may be served with subpoenas to appear before the Senate health committee to explain why their products are much more expensive in the U.S. than in other countries, according to chairman Sen. Bernie Sanders.
January 19, 2024
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Businessmen shaking hands after closing a deal
Deals
Sun Finally Buys Remaining Taro Shares in $348M Takeover
Nearly two decades in the making, the companies expect to close the deal in the first half of 2024, after which Taro Pharmaceutical will become a privately held entity and will no longer trade on the New York Stock Exchange.
January 19, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Medicines on dollar bills/iStock, Julia_
Policy
Proposed IRA Expansion Would Cripple Biopharma, Lead to Fewer Drugs: Report
A legislative proposal, if passed into law, could cost the United States up to 1.2 million jobs and lead to more than 130 fewer FDA approvals over a 10-year period, according to a new report.
January 19, 2024
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3 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: FDA signage at its office in Washington, DC
Policy
Satsuma Fails to Secure FDA Approval for Nasal Powder Migraine Drug
The FDA’s Complete Response Letter identified problems with the drug candidate’s chemistry, manufacturing and controls, parent company Shin Nippon Biomedical Laboratories announced Thursday.
January 18, 2024
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: AbbVie Corporate Office/iStock, vzphotos
AbbVie’s Humira Maintains Market Dominance Amid Biosimilar Launches: Report
Despite offering discounts that reach as high as 85%, Humira biosimilars are finding it difficult to take market share away from the AbbVie blockbuster, according to a new report from Samsung Bioepis.
January 18, 2024
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3 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Bayer's office in Berlin, Germany/iStock
Business
Bayer Rolls Out New Operating Model, Eliminates Managerial Staff
The sweeping changes are meant to “reduce hierarchies” and “accelerate decision-making” as Bayer weathers several business crises and continues to suffer from the fallout of its disastrous Monsanto acquisition.
January 18, 2024
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Facade of the U.S. Patent and Trademark
Policy
USPTO Rules Against Seagen in ADC Patent Battle with Daiichi Sankyo
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has sided with Daiichi over Seagen in a years-long patent saga concerning a key linker technology used in its blockbuster Enhertu antibody-drug conjugate for cancer.
January 17, 2024
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: GSK laboratories in Dresden, Germany
GSK Raises $1.24B by Selling Stake in Consumer Health Spin-Off Haleon
The British drugmaker on Wednesday said it sold around 300 million shares of Haleon, cutting its shareholding to 4.2%, as it expands its portfolio of specialty medicines, Reuters reported.
January 17, 2024
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: A sign in front of a Takeda building/iSt
FDA
Takeda Gets FDA Label Expansion for HyQvia in Rare Autoimmune Disorder
The FDA on Tuesday extended the label for Takeda’s immune globulin infusion as a maintenance therapy for adults with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy.
January 17, 2024
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Illumina signage outside its office in California
Policy
Judge Orders Icahn to Strike Confidential Information from Illumina Lawsuit
Delaware Chancery Court Judge Paul Fioravanti on Tuesday ordered activist investor Carl Icahn to remove confidential information from his lawsuit against legacy Illumina board members.
January 17, 2024
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Illustration depicting large layoffs/iSt
Business
Allakos Axes Half of Its Workforce, Drops Lead Inflammatory Candidate
The biotech Tuesday announced a restructuring plan as its humanized IgG1 antibody lirentelimab failed two Phase II studies in atopic dermatitis and chronic spontaneous urticaria.
January 16, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
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