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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.

illustration of people racing along arrows
Cardiovascular disease
Merck Pushes Winrevair Past Dose-Response Doubts Into Pivotal Study for Rare Type of Heart Failure
The lack of a dose-response effect could be due to the high number of dropouts in the higher-dose Winrevair arm and the relatively small study population, a discussant for Merck explained.
March 30, 2026
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Robotic claw clutching a money stock illustration
Deals
Lilly Doubles Down on Insilico’s AI Medicines, Bets up to $2.75B
The Insilico Medicine agreement plays into Eli Lilly’s recent AI push, anchored by a partnership last year with NVIDIA to build a supercomputer to optimize drug discovery and shorten the development timeline.
March 30, 2026
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Employee competency assessment. Collage of hands holding king and a pawn. Succession planning.
Immunology and inflammation
As J&J Brings Icotyde to Market, AbbVie Remains Confident in Skyrizi’s Efficacy Edge
AbbVie’s Skyrizi appears to have stronger efficacy than Johnson & Johnson’s newly approved pill Icotyde, as well as a less frequent dosing schedule that patients could prefer, according to analysts at BMO Capital Markets.
March 30, 2026
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3 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Silver Spring, MD, USA 11/10/2020: Exterior view of the headquarters of US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This federal agency approves medications, vaccines and food additives for human use.
Regulatory
6 FDA Decisions To Watch in Q2 2026
The FDA has some big verdicts lined up in the second quarter, including one for a closely watched obesity drug that many anticipate will further intensify competition in weight loss.
March 30, 2026
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7 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Business people and concepts vector art exit
Government
After Speaking out of Turn, Malone Steps Down From Vaccine Committee
Former ACIP vice chair Robert Malone claimed that Andrew Nixon, spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services, “trashed” him with the media, adding that he resigned because “I do not like drama.”
March 27, 2026
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Innovation - Think differently - Being different, taking risky, move for success in life -The graphic of rocket also represents the concept of courage, enterprise, confidence, belief, fearless, daring,
Gene therapy
Rocket’s Gene Therapy Wins FDA Greenlight, Clearing Way for Future Products
While the accelerated approval unlocks only a small market opportunity for Rocket Pharmaceuticals, it will give the biotech a chance to prepare for future product launches, according to Jefferies.
March 27, 2026
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Creative collage illustration of financial business. Two businessmen shaking hands for partners agreement. Conceptual illustration of success deal, corporate ethic, connection.
Mergers & acquisitions
Novartis Keeps Deals Coming With $2B Excellergy Takeover
The Excellergy acquisition will complement Novartis’ existing allergy profile, anchored by the IgE blocker Xolair that in February 2024 was approved to treat food allergies in children and adults.
March 27, 2026
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Tsunami stormy sea waves on sand beach, Thunderstorm background
Obesity
Wave Stock Cut in Half on Underwhelming Higher Dose Obesity Data
While participants on a lower dose of Wave Life Sciences’ RNA therapy lost 5.3% total fat at the six-month mark, those receiving the higher dose saw a less than 1% drop at three months.
March 26, 2026
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Illustration of red paper plane leading white paper planes up into the sky
Rare diseases
Beam’s Base Editor Advances to Pivotal Development on Back of ‘Impressive’ AATD Data
Beam is now in the strongest position of all companies advancing a genetic therapy for alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, according to analysts at William Blair.
March 26, 2026
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1 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Silhouette of a business person on the top of a mountain peak in sunset background. Winner and conquer of businessman concept.
Approvals
Denali Delivers ‘Welcome Positive’ for Rare Disease Space With FDA’s Hunter Syndrome Nod
Avlayah is the first Hunter syndrome therapy approved to address the condition’s neurologic complications, according to Tracy Beth Høeg, acting director of the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.
March 26, 2026
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3 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Effort, Businessman pushing a round object
Pipeline
Sarepta Pushes Past Gene Therapy Debacle as RNA Therapies Show Early Promise
Biomarker data for Sarepta Therapeutics’ RNA programs, licensed from Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals, are “competitive” and “strong,” according to analysts at Jefferies, which projected over $1 billion in peak sales.
March 26, 2026
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Big fish eats small, takeover of the company. Art collage.
Mergers & acquisitions
Merck To Buy Terns, ‘Unprecedented’ Leukemia Drug for $6.7B as Keytruda Cliff Looms
Merck’s acquisition of Terns Pharmaceuticals follows other big-ticket purchases, including of Verona Pharma and Cidara Therapeutics, as the pharma prepares for the impending expiration of its blockbuster’s patents.
March 25, 2026
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3 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Abstract creative art collage, market declines in the stock market. The concept of collapse or bankruptcy.
Cancer
Karyopharm Slides as Mixed Myelofibrosis Results Cloud Regulatory Road
Missing one of its co-primary endpoints could make it difficult for Karyopharm Therapeutics to score conventional approval for Xpovio in myelofibrosis, according to Jefferies analysts.
March 25, 2026
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Espionage in China concept, 3D rendering isolated on white background
Funding
RA Capital Looks to China for Next Startup To Put on SPAC Track to Nasdaq
While RA Capital Management has yet to commit to a merger plan, it noted that its new blank-check company, Research Alliance III, could target companies abroad, including those from China.
March 25, 2026
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Alarm clock with pause sign, take a break, menopause concept, hormone replacement therapy
Obesity
Aardvark Pauses 2 Obesity Trials, Reveals New Details on Cardiac Concerns
Aardvark Therapeutics’ obesity asset is based on its lead molecule, which in February was linked to reversible heart safety signals in a healthy volunteer study.
March 24, 2026
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
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