SUBSCRIBE
SUBSCRIBE
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: 3D illustration of a damaged liver/iStoc
Drug Development
Ipsen, Genfit Build Case for Rare Liver Disease Drug with Phase III Data
In a late-stage trial, treatment with Ipsen and Genfit’s elafibranor led to high rates of biochemical response and the normalization of alkaline phosphatase levels compared with placebo.
November 14, 2023
 · 
2 min read
 · 
Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Eli Lilly's headquarters in Indianapolis
Drug Development
Lilly Notches Second Cholesterol Win with RNA Silencer
At its highest dose level of 608 mg, lepodisiran reduced lipoprotein(a) levels by a median of 94% after 48 weeks.
November 13, 2023
 · 
2 min read
 · 
Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Healthcare worker holding up a vial for an LDL-C test
Drug Development
Verve’s Gene Editor Cuts Cholesterol in First-in-Human HeFH Trial
When given at potentially therapeutic doses, Verve’s base editor led to strong reductions in LDL cholesterol and PCSK9 levels in patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia.
November 13, 2023
 · 
2 min read
 · 
Tristan Manalac
Novo Nordisk headquarters in Silicon Valley
Drug Development
Novo Builds Wegovy’s Cardio Case with Much-Anticipated Data Drop
Novo Nordisk posted new data at AHA 2023 showing that its blockbuster weight loss drug could cut the risk of major cardiovascular events—including heart attack—across patient subgroups.
November 13, 2023
 · 
2 min read
 · 
Tristan Manalac
Novo Nordisk headquarters in Silicon Valley
Novo Pumps $6B into Manufacturing to Help Meet Sky-High Wegovy Demand
In response to skyrocketing demand for its weight-loss drug Wegovy, Novo Nordisk announced Friday it is investing more than $6 billion to expand production capacity in its home country of Denmark.
November 10, 2023
 · 
2 min read
 · 
Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Magnetic resonance imaging scans of the brain
Drug Development
Neurocrine Hit with Back-to-Back Phase II Failures in Neuropsychiatry
The two mid-stage flops—one in major depressive disorder and another in focal onset seizures—involve drug candidates from partnerships with Xenon Pharmaceuticals and Takeda, respectively.
November 10, 2023
 · 
2 min read
 · 
Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Facade of Takeda's office in Massachusetts
FDA
Takeda Wins First FDA Approval for Ultra-Rare Blood Clotting Disease
The biopharma’s Adzynma, a human recombinant ADAMST13 therapeutic, is the first approved therapy for the ultra-rare clotting disorder congenital thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura.
November 10, 2023
 · 
2 min read
 · 
Tristan Manalac
Pictured: FDA sign at Washington D.C. headquarters
Policy
FDA Action Alert: Pacira, CorMedix, Aldeyra and More
Over the next two weeks, the FDA is set to decide on New Drug Applications from Pacira, CorMedix and Aldeyra and hold an advisory committee meeting for two overdue confirmatory trials from Acrotech.
November 9, 2023
 · 
5 min read
 · 
Tristan Manalac
Pictured: AstraZeneca signage at its office in Sweden
Business
AstraZeneca Targets Obesity Market with Potential $2B Deal for Early GLP-1 Candidate
In a bid to join Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk in the lucrative, high-growth obesity market, AstraZeneca is investing in a Phase I oral GLP-1RA candidate from Shanghai-based biotech Eccogene.
November 9, 2023
 · 
2 min read
 · 
Tristan Manalac
Facade of Novo Nordisk's office in Fremont, California
Novo to Discontinue Long-Acting Insulin Injection Levemir by the End of 2024
Citing manufacturing concerns and formulary losses, Novo Nordisk will discontinue its long-acting insulin Levemir by the end of next year amid strong pressure from U.S. lawmakers to lower insulin prices.
November 9, 2023
 · 
2 min read
 · 
Tristan Manalac
Pictured: A sign in front of a Takeda building/iSt
FDA
Takeda Wins FDA Approval for Fruquintinib in Certain Colorectal Cancer Patients
The oral targeted therapy, now sold under the brand name Fruzaqla, is approved for adults with metastatic colorectal cancer who have received certain previous treatments for the disease.
November 9, 2023
 · 
2 min read
 · 
Tristan Manalac
Gilead's corporate headquarters in Silicon Valley
Business
Gilead Q3 Revenue Stagnates, Drops Late-Stage COVID-19 and AML Trials
The third-quarter growth of Gilead’s HIV, oncology and cell therapy businesses was completely offset by declining COVID-19 and liver disease sales, with revenue flat compared to the same period last year.
November 8, 2023
 · 
2 min read
 · 
Tristan Manalac
Pictured: 3D rendering of amyloid-beta oligomers
Business
Eisai Sees ‘Dramatic’ Increase in Leqembi Uptake Following Full FDA Approval
After winning traditional approval from the U.S. regulator, Eisai’s Alzheimer’s disease therapy Leqembi has seen a sharp increase in patient uptake, with a target of 10,000 patients by March 2024.
November 8, 2023
 · 
2 min read
 · 
Tristan Manalac
Pictured: BioMarin headquarters in California/iSto
Business
Activist Investor Takes $1B Stake in BioMarin Amid CEO Change, Disappointing Sales
Activist hedge fund investor Elliott Investment Management has bought over a $1 billion stake in BioMarin as the biotech grapples with a leadership change and disappointing sales of its hemophilia A gene therapy.
November 8, 2023
 · 
2 min read
 · 
Tristan Manalac
External view of Novartis' office in Canada
Business
Novartis Inks Potential $1.3B Contract with Korean Biotech for Small Molecule
For $80 million upfront and the promise of more than $1.2 billion in milestones, Novartis has bought the global rights to develop an oral HDAC6 inhibitor from Chong Kun Dang Pharmaceutical.
November 7, 2023
 · 
2 min read
 · 
Tristan Manalac
Load More