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Tristan Manalac

Tristan Manalac

Senior Staff Writer

Tristan is BioSpace‘s senior staff writer. Based in Metro Manila, Tristan has 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: Magnetic resonance imaging scans of the brain
Drug Development
Xenon’s Add-On Epilepsy Treatment Shows Promising Phase IIb Efficacy, Safety
Patients treated with Xenon Pharmaceuticals’ investigational potassium channel opener XEN1101 experienced a significant and dose-dependent reduction in seizure frequency.
October 10, 2023
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Artistic rendition of schizophrenia/iSto
Drug Development
Newron’s Schizophrenia Candidate Scores Mid-Stage Win, Moves to Phase III
At the six-month follow-up, about 40% of patients treated with Newron Pharmaceuticals’ evenamide improved so much that they no longer meet the Phase II study’s original eligibility criteria.
October 10, 2023
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Alnylam headquarters in Cambridge, Massa
Policy
FDA Blocks Alnylam’s Bid to Expand Onpattro Label
Despite winning the backing of an FDA advisory committee, the regulator in a Complete Response Letter declined Alnylam’s bid to expand Onpattro’s label to cardiomyopathy in ATTR amyloidosis.
October 9, 2023
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Novartis' logo outside its building in S
FDA
Novartis Wins FDA Approval for Intravenous Cosentyx Formulation
The Swiss pharma continues its winning streak with the FDA’s approval of the intravenous formulation of Cosentyx for ankylosing spondylitis, axial spondyloarthritis and psoriatic arthritis.
October 9, 2023
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Bristol Myers Squibb office in California
Deals
BMS Buys Mirati for $4.8B to Boost Cancer Business
Following rumors last week of a potential acquisition by Sanofi, Bristol Myers Squibb on Sunday announced that it paid $4.8 billion to gain access to Mirati Therapeutics’ oncology-focused portfolio.
October 9, 2023
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Facade of Sanofi's headquarters in Franc
Deals
Sanofi Mulls Mirati Buy as KRAS Battle Heats Up: Bloomberg
Following a Phase III failure and the departure of its CEO, Mirati Therapeutics is rumored to be engaged in acquisition discussions with French pharma giant Sanofi, according to Bloomberg.
October 6, 2023
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: A sign with the Merck logo surrounded by
Drug Development
Merck’s Keytruda Poised for Bladder Cancer Expansion with New Phase III Data
Keytruda’s winning streak in bladder continues with positive data from the Phase III AMBASSADOR study, showing significantly better disease-free survival in muscle-invasive urothelial carcinoma.
October 6, 2023
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Amgen's office in Massachusetts/iStock,
Policy
Amgen Fails to Secure FDA Adcomm Support for Full Lumakras Approval
Data from a confirmatory study could not be reliably interpreted, according to the Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee, which voted against Amgen’s request for full approval of its G12C KRAS inhibitor.
October 6, 2023
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Tristan Manalac
Facade of the FDA's office in Maryland
Policy
FDA Puts Innate’s Lymphoma Trials on Partial Hold After Patient Death
Following a fatality due to the rare blood disease hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, the regulator slapped a partial clinical hold on two studies of Innate Pharma’s investigational therapy lacutamab.
October 5, 2023
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Four businesspeople giving their thumbs
Policy
FDA Adcomm Backs Neuroblastoma Treatment, Even Without RCT Data
Despite the lack of a randomized controlled trial for US WorldMeds’ investigational drug, an FDA advisory committee found that the company provided adequate data to support its benefit in high-risk neuroblastoma.
October 5, 2023
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: J&J's building in Switzerland
Drug Development
J&J’s Spravato Bests Quetiapine in Phase III Head-to-Head Depression Study
Patients with treatment-resistant depression treated with Johnson & Johnson’s Spravato were significantly more likely to reach remission and stay relapse-free for up to 32 weeks.
October 5, 2023
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: 3D illustration of the CRISPR-Cas9 system editing a stretch of DNA
Business
Regeneron, Intellia Expand CRISPR Pact to Neurological and Muscular Diseases
The companies are expanding their long-standing CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing collaboration for the second time, now seeking to target neurological and muscular conditions.
October 4, 2023
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Illustration of pancreas/iStock, Rasi Bh
Drug Development
Vertex Touts Promising Data for Stem Cell-Based Type 1 Diabetes Treatment
New Phase I/II trial results show that one more type 1 diabetes patient achieved insulin independence after treatment with Vertex Pharmaceuticals’ investigational stem cell therapy VX-880.
October 4, 2023
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Entrance to the U.S. Department of Healt
Policy
Ten Companies Register to Participate in Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program
Despite lawsuits by some companies challenging the negotiations under the Inflation Reduction Act, the manufacturers of the first 10 drugs selected for Medicare price talks will participate in the program.
October 4, 2023
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Eli Lilly Campus in San Diego
Deals
Lilly Deepens Oncology Pipeline with $1.4B Point Biopharma Purchase
Eli Lilly on Tuesday continued its buying spree with a $1.4 billion acquisition of the radiopharma company’s pipeline of clinical and preclinical radioligand therapies.
October 3, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
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