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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: Illustration of liver surrounded by hepa
Drug Development
Eiger Discontinues Phase III Hepatitis Study Due to Safety Concerns
Following cases of hepatobiliary toxicity leading to liver decompensation, Eiger has decided to drop its Phase III LIMT-2 trial of peginterferon lambda in chronic hepatitis delta.
September 13, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Update: AbbVie headquarters building in California
Drug Development
AbbVie’s Skyrizi Outperforms J&J’s Stelara in Late-Stage Crohn’s Disease Trial
Continuing its clinical win streak, AbbVie’s Skyrizi showed signs of superiority against Johnson & Johnson’s Stelara in topline data from a head-to-head Phase III Crohn’s disease study.
September 13, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: X-ray illustration with the adrenal glan
Drug Development
Neurocrine’s Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia Candidate Clears Phase III
Topline data for the company’s CRF1 antagonist crinecerfont showed a significant drop in daily glucocorticoid dose, while maintaining androgen control in adult patients with the genetic disorder.
September 13, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Illustration depicting large layoffs/iSt
Business
2seventy to Lay Off 40% of Workforce, CEO to Depart in Reorganization
Citing a challenging macro environment, 2seventy bio is launching a sweeping strategic reorganization that will see 40% of its staff laid off and CEO Nick Leschly stepping down.
September 12, 2023
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3 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Novartis headquarters in Basel, Switzerl
Business
Sandoz to Commercialize Samsung Bioepis’ Biosimilar to J&J’s Stelara
As the Novartis generics and biosimilars division nears its spin-off, Sandoz has signed a commercialization agreement with Samsung Bioepis, gaining rights to the latter’s Stelara biosimilar.
September 12, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Close-up of a skin lesion in a patient w
Drug Development
Acelyrin’s Lead Asset Izokibep Fails in Late-Stage Hidradenitis Suppurativa Trial
Following a $540 million IPO in May, Acelyrin’s lead candidate izokibep failed to meet the primary endpoint in a Phase IIb/III study of patients with the chronic inflammatory skin condition.
September 12, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Facade of Novartis building in Switzerland
Deals
Novartis Drops Eye Disease Gene Therapy from $800M Gyroscope Acquisition
Following a Phase II review, Novartis has cut the development of a gene therapy candidate for geographic atrophy. In June, the company sold a dry eye disease drug to Bauch + Lomb for $1.75 billion.
September 11, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Test-tube containing a patient's sample
Drug Development
Crinetics Aces Phase III in Rare Disease Acromegaly with Once-Daily Pill
The California pharma is building up to its first-ever approval with promising late-stage data for its once-daily investigational acromegaly pill paltusotine, an alternative to the injectable standard of care.
September 11, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Gilead's corporate headquarters in Silicon Valley
Drug Development
Gilead’s Trodelvy Shows Potential as First-Line Treatment in NSCLC
The first-in-class antibody-drug conjugate—in combination with Merck’s Keytruda—has shown promising results in a Phase II study of patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer.
September 11, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
AstraZeneca's sign on its office in California
Business
AstraZeneca Signs AI-Powered Drug Discovery Pact with Verge
Seeking to deepen its neurology and rare disease pipelines, AstraZeneca’s Alexion has joined forces with Verge Genomics to leverage its artificial intelligence platform in drug discovery and development.
September 8, 2023
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Illustration of an antibody molecule/iSt
Business
Seagen, Nurix Team to Create New Class of Antibody Conjugates for Cancer
The companies have started a collaboration worth up to $3.4 billion to develop a portfolio of degrader-antibody conjugates, a potentially new class of antibodies that selectively kill cancer cells.
September 8, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Illustration of a virus vector/iStock, p
Business
Otsuka, Shape Ink Potential $1.5B Deal to Develop Eye AAV Gene Therapies
To build its ophthalmology portfolio, Japan’s Otsuka Pharmaceuticals has teamed with RNA editing biotech Shape Therapeutics to develop adeno-associated virus gene therapies for ocular diseases.
September 8, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Facade of the FDA's office in Maryland
Drug Development
FDA Action Alert: GSK and Alnylam
After a three-month delay, GSK expects an FDA verdict for its myelofibrosis candidate, while Alnylam gears up for an advisory committee meeting discussing patisiran in cardiomyopathy of ATTR amyloidosis.
September 7, 2023
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3 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: J&J's office in Madrid, Spain
Drug Development
J&J Terminates Phase III Study of Cardio Asset in Pulmonary Hypertension
At the recommendation of an independent data monitoring committee, J&J decided to stop the MACiTEPH trial in chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension due to futility.
September 7, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Bristol Myers Squibb office in California
Policy
BMS Accused by HMO of Patent Fraud to Allegedly Sustain Pomalyst Monopoly
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana has filed a case against Bristol Myers Squibb alleging the company conducted patent fraud to extend protections for its multiple myeloma drug Pomalyst.
September 7, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
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