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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: The U.S. Supreme Court building in Washi
Policy
Supreme Court Takes Up Abortion Pill Case, Decision Expected Amid 2024 Election
The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to the Biden administration’s request to review lower-court rulings that would curtail access to the abortion pill mifepristone, with a decision expected in the summer.
December 14, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Businessmen shaking hands after closing a deal
Deals
Pharma, Life Sciences Sector to See Healthy M&A Activity in 2024: PwC
After a “reasonably strong year” in 2023, next year will see “similar levels” of M&A activity with increased investor interest in weight loss and cardiovascular diseases, contends professional services firm PwC.
December 14, 2023
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3 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Man emptying a bottle of pills onto his
Drug Development
Vertex Non-Opioid Pain Candidate Shows Promising Phase II Results
The company’s non-opioid painkiller candidate VX-548 decreased Numerical Pain Rating Scale scores by at least two points after 12 weeks in a mid-stage diabetic peripheral neuropathy study.
December 13, 2023
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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 Action Alert: Calliditas, Ionis/AstraZeneca, Amgen and More
The year may be coming to a close, but there’s no holiday break for the FDA, which will release five regulatory verdicts over the next two weeks.
December 13, 2023
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4 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: The Berlaymont building, which houses th
Policy
EU Lists Hundreds of Critical Medicines in Effort to Prevent Shortages
Medicines on the list can still be prescribed but will be under tight monitoring by a regulatory network, which can implement measures to prevent shortages and ensure supply chain continuity.
December 13, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
FDA signage at its office in Maryland
Policy
FDA Creates Adcomm for Genetic Metabolic Diseases and Potential Treatments
Ahead of an expected surge in regulatory filings, the FDA is establishing the Genetic Metabolic Diseases Advisory Committee to provide advice on treatments for these complex and challenging conditions.
December 13, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: AstraZeneca signage at its office in Sweden
Deals
AstraZeneca Buys into RSV Vaccine Market with Potential $1.1B Icosavax Purchase
With the acquisition, AstraZeneca will gain access to Icosavax’s investigational combination vaccine IVX-A12, which is being developed for respiratory syncytial virus and human metapneumovirus in older adults.
December 12, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Bristol Myers Squibb in NJ/iStock, arlut
Business
BMS Inks Potential $8.4B Deal for SystImmune’s ADC for Lung, Breast Cancer
Bristol Myers Squibb has bought the rights to develop and commercialize SystImmune’s potentially first-in-class, bi-specific antibody-drug conjugate for lung and breast cancer as well as other solid tumors.
December 12, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Facade of Sanofi's headquarters in Franc
Policy
Sanofi Drops Acquisition of Maze’s Pompe Disease Drug After FTC Challenge
Following the regulator’s administrative complaint and threat of a lawsuit in federal court, Sanofi has decided to terminate its licensing deal with Maze Therapeutics to avoid a long litigation process.
December 12, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Novartis' office building in Marburg, Germany
Drug Development
Novartis’ Iptacopan Aces Phase III Study in Ultra-Rare Kidney Disease Days After FDA Approval
The trial demonstrated that C3G glomerulopathy patients treated with the oral factor B inhibitor saw a significant reduction in protein in their urine. The results come days after iptacopan won the FDA’s green light for a rare blood disease.
December 12, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Pfizer office in Brussels, Belgium/iStoc
Drug Development
Pfizer’s $5.4B GBT Bet Pays Off with Promising Phase II Data for Oxbryta Successor
Patients treated with the investigational sickle cell therapy saw an increase in hemoglobin levels and improved red blood cell parameters.
December 11, 2023
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3 min read
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Tristan Manalac
3D illustration of a T cell killing a cancer cell
Drug Development
Roche Partner Poseida Touts High Response Rates for Allogeneic CAR-T Therapy
The investigational allogeneic CAR-T therapy P-BCMA-ALLO1 appears to be more effective following strong immunosuppressive preconditioning.
December 11, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Illustration showing sickle cells in the
Bluebird’s Newly Approved SCD Gene Therapy Faces Rough Road with Hefty Price Tag, Boxed Warning
These factors, along with bluebird bio’s failure to receive a priority review voucher, all hurt the company’s stock price following Lyfgenia’s approval.
December 11, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Merck Research Laboratories headquarters in Silicon Valley
Drug Development
Merck’s Keytruda Flops in Late-Stage Endometrial Carcinoma Study
For the second time in as many days, Merck has reported a Phase III failure for its blockbuster PD-1 inhibitor Keytruda, this time as a first-line treatment with Eisai’s Lenvima for cancer in the uterus lining.
December 8, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: American cash shaped into a funnel/iStoc
Biopharma Funding, Deals Fall Sharply in 2023 in ‘Strategic’ Shift: PitchBook
The biopharma industry is projected to raise $24 billion this year, a steep decline from the “high-water marks” of 2020 through 2022, according to a new report from market data firm PitchBook.
December 8, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
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