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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: Bristol Myers Squibb office in California
Drug Development
BMS Builds Case for Opdivo, Yervoy Combo in First-Line Colorectal Cancer
Results from a Phase III trial showed the combination improves progression-free survival compared to chemotherapy when used as a first-line treatment in metastatic colorectal cancer.
December 8, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Facade of Sanofi's headquarters in Franc
Sanofi Touts 12 Potential Blockbusters in Bid to Regain Investor Confidence
In an R&D event on Thursday, the French pharma is trying to win over its investors by highlighting a dozen potential blockbusters and charting strong growth for the company through 2030.
December 7, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Front view of the White House
Policy
Biden Admin Targets Pharma Patents to Lower Drug Prices under Controversial Authority
Following a nine-month review, the Biden administration will issue a framework for the National Institutes of Health to implement so-called “march-in rights” under the Bayh-Dole Act of 1980.
December 7, 2023
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3 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: AbbVie Corporate Office/iStock, vzphotos
Deals
AbbVie Continues Buying Spree with $8.7B Cerevel Acquisition to Bolster Neuro
The deal, announced late Wednesday, will provide AbbVie with access to Cerevel Therapeutics’ pipeline of clinical-stage and preclinical candidates for psychiatric and neurological diseases.
December 7, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Novartis' logo outside its building in S
FDA
Novartis Wins FDA Approval for Oral Monotherapy for Rare Blood Disorder
The Swiss pharma’s Fabhalta, a Factor B inhibitor, is the first FDA-approved oral monotherapy for adults with the rare blood disorder paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria.
December 6, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
External view of the U.S. Capitol building
Policy
Sen. Bill Cassidy Eyes Legislation to Improve Access to Gene Therapies
With the biopharma industry’s looming wave of gene therapy submissions and potential approvals, the senior senator is laying the groundwork for a legislative initiative to improve access to these expensive treatments.
December 6, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Merck KGaA signage at its headquarters in Darmstadt, Germany
Drug Development
Merck KGaA’s BTK Inhibitor Fails Phase III Multiple Sclerosis Studies
In two late-stage trials, the experimental oral drug evobrutinib was unable to significantly reduce annualized relapse rates in MS patients compared with Sanofi’s Aubagio tablets.
December 6, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
3D illustration of a T cell killing a cancer cell
CRISPR Reorganizes CAR-T Pipeline Ahead of FDA’s Landmark Decision
The gene editing company is dropping two programs and favoring its next-generation assets CTX112 and CTX131, which it will continue to develop in oncology but will also test in autoimmune diseases.
December 5, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Illustration of an electroencephalogram
Drug Development
Alto’s Neuropsychiatric Platform Scores Third Mid-Stage Win
ALTO-300 was significantly more effective in major depressive disorder patients with a specific EEG biomarker than in those without, according to results from an Alto Neuroscience Phase IIa study.
December 5, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Roche's tower in Shanghai, China
Policy
FDA Puts Clinical Hold on Roche BTK Inhibitor Multiple Sclerosis Program
The regulator placed a partial clinical hold on Roche’s fenebrutinib—being developed for relapsing MS—after two patients experienced elevated hepatic transaminase and bilirubin levels indicative of liver injury.
December 5, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Roche Diagnostics building in California
Deals
Roche Jumps into Lucrative Weight-Loss Space with $2.7B Carmot Buy
The acquisition will give Roche access to Carmot’s clinical portfolio of three GLP-1 receptor agonists, placing it squarely in the middle of the competition to treat overweight and obesity.
December 4, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Eli Lilly's biotechnology center in San Diego, California
FDA
Lilly Wins Second Accelerated Approval for Reversible BTK Inhibitor
Lilly’s Jaypirca (pirtobrutinib) can now be used to treat chronic lymphocytic leukemia or small lymphocytic leukemia that had progressed from at least two prior lines of therapy, in addition to its previously-approved indications.
December 4, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: J&J's office in Madrid, Spain
Drug Development
J&J Hires Thousands, Invests Millions in AI-Powered Drug Discovery
Johnson & Johnson’s AI investments include a research facility in San Francisco and a data science workforce of approximately 6,000 employees.
December 4, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: FDA sign at Washington D.C. headquarters
Drug Development
FDA Action Alert: Vertex/CRISPR, Arcutis and Optinose
This week, the FDA could approve the first CRISPR-edited therapy in the U.S., while two other companies await decisions on topical drugs.
December 1, 2023
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4 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: GSK's office in Poznan, Poland/iStock, W
GSK Pulls Ahead of Pfizer in RSV Vaccine Market as Arexvy Nears Blockbuster Status
CEO Emma Walmsley projects that the British biopharma’s Arexvy sales will exceed £1 billion in its first year on the market, leaving Pfizer’s Abrysvo respiratory syncytial virus vaccine far behind in the race.
December 1, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
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