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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 in NJ/iStock, arlut
Policy
FDA Delays Decision on BMS, 2seventy bio’s Push for Earlier Line Abecma Treatment
The regulator has decided to hold an advisory committee meeting regarding BMS and 2seventy bio’s bid to move the CAR-T cell therapy into earlier lines of treatment, missing its previous target action date of Dec. 16.
November 21, 2023
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Scans of human brain /iStock, Nur Ceren
Drug Development
With New Phase III Data in Hand, Servier Eyes FDA Filing for Glioma Candidate
Vorasidenib decreased tumor volume by a mean of 2.5% every six months, compared to growth of 13.9% for placebo over the same time span. The candidate is also being tested in a regimen with Keytruda.
November 20, 2023
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Bayer's office in New Jersey
Drug Development
Outclassed by Eliquis, Bayer Halts Atrial Fibrillation Study of Factor XIa Inhibitor
Bayer’s investigational factor XIa inhibitor asundexian was inferior to BMS’ and Pfizer’s blockbuster blood thinner Eliquis (apixaban) in the Phase III OCEANIC-AF study.
November 20, 2023
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Nasdaq signage and building in New York City
Deals
Playing in the Hot Obesity Market, Carmot Braves Chilly IPO Waters
Armed with a pipeline of obesity and diabetes hopefuls, Carmot Therapeutics joins the small group of biotechs to attempt a Nasdaq debut this year.
November 20, 2023
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Tristan Manalac
Merck Research Laboratories in South San Francisco, California
FDA
Merck Expands Keytruda’s Label as a First-Line Option for Gastric Cancer
The company won the third FDA approval in a month for the anti-PD-1 blockbuster, allowing its first-line use in locally advanced unresectable or metastatic gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma.
November 17, 2023
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Eli Lilly's headquarters in Indianapolis
Drug Development
Lilly Invests $2.5B in German Plant Amid Explosive Demand for Obesity Drugs
To help cope with the high demand for weight-loss treatments, Eli Lilly is investing $2.5 billion in a German manufacturing facility after last week’s FDA approval of Zepbound for chronic weight management.
November 17, 2023
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Tristan Manalac
Update: AbbVie headquarters building in California
Drug Development
AbbVie’s Migraine Drug Ubrelvy Scores Victory in Phase III Study
When given hours ahead of an expected episode, a late-stage study showed the preventive benefits of Ubrelvy in safely reducing moderate or severe headaches within 24 hours of treatment.
November 17, 2023
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: 3D illustration of the CRISPR-Cas9 system editing a stretch of DNA
Policy
Vertex, CRISPR Win World’s First Approval for CRISPR-Edited Therapy from UK
The U.K.’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency on Thursday provided conditional marketing authorization for Vertex Pharmaceuticals and CRISPR Therapeutics’ gene-edited therapy exa-cel.
November 16, 2023
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Tristan Manalac
Facade of Novo Nordisk's office in Fremont, California
Drug Development
Novo Takes Aim at Lilly’s Zepbound in Head-to-Head Trial Versus Wegovy Combo
Just a week after it secured FDA approval, Eli Lilly’s Zepbound now faces a challenge from Novo Nordisk’s investigational next-generation weight-loss candidate CagriSema in a Phase III trial.
November 16, 2023
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: A person receiving hemodialysis/iStock,
FDA
CorMedix Wins FDA Approval for Antimicrobial Drug Combo After Two Rejections
Approved under the Limited Population Pathway for Antibacterial and Antifungal Drugs, CorMedix’s DefenCath reduces the incidence of catheter-related bloodstream infections in adult hemodialysis patients.
November 16, 2023
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Tristan Manalac
Gilead's corporate headquarters in Silicon Valley
Business
Gilead’s Kite Expands Arcellx Pact with $285M Equity Investment, Upfront Cash
Months after the FDA lifted its partial hold on their Phase II multiple myeloma program, Kite and Arcellx are expanding their existing development and commercialization collaboration in the blood cancer space.
November 15, 2023
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Pfizer's signage at its world headquarters in New York
Business
Pfizer to Cut 500 Jobs at UK Site as Part of $3.5B Cost-Savings Campaign
On the heels of cutting 100 jobs in Ireland, Pfizer is laying off around 500 workers from its Sandwich, Kent facility in the U.K. under its cost-reduction plan to save $3.5 billion through 2024.
November 15, 2023
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Doctor looking at brain scan images/iSto
Drug Development
ZZ Biotech Hit with Data Manipulation Allegations Regarding Stroke Trial
Whistleblowers allege that ZZ Biotech co-founder Berislav Zlokovic pressured his scientists to adjust data in favor of the investigational stroke therapy 3K3A-APC, according to a dossier obtained by Science.
November 15, 2023
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Tristan Manalac
External view of AstraZeneca's headquarters building in Silicon Valley
Drug Development
AstraZeneca Bid to Expand Imfinzi’s NSCLC Label Hit with Phase III Flop
When given with chemoradiotherapy, Imfinzi in a late-stage non-small cell lung cancer study did not lead to significant improvements in progression-free survival versus chemoradiotherapy alone.
November 14, 2023
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Businessmen shaking hands after closing a deal
Deals
Ajinomoto Targets Gene Therapy Space with $620M Forge Acquisition
The Japanese biotechnology and food company has bought into the gene therapy space with its $620 million acquisition of Ohio-based CDMO and clinical-stage biotech Forge Biologics.
November 14, 2023
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Tristan Manalac
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