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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.

Different business strategies. Various solutions. Splitting opinions. Choosing way. Movement options. Separation of directions. Dilemma concept. Two diverging paths of arrows. 3d render
Vaccines
Pfizer Reportedly Planning To Divest BioNTech Stake
A BioNTech spokesperson downplayed the news, insisting that the two companies remain “close” and have a “strong collaboration.”
November 14, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
The factor that changes everything. A critical break. A sudden change in plans. A threat and a danger. Recover from the blow and get back on course. Severe stress. Withstand the blow.
Obesity
Zealand Freezes Mid-Stage Obesity Asset To Focus on More Differentiated Drugs
The decision to pause dapiglutide will help Zealand focus investment into assets that have “the greatest potential for clinical differentiation” in obesity.
November 13, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
AbbVie's office in South San Francisco, California
Layoffs
AbbVie Ends 11-Year Relationship With Calico, Lays Off 100+
In January, AbbVie and Calico’s fosigotifator failed to show significant signs of efficacy in the HEALEY ALS platform trial for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
November 13, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Collage image sketch of tired girl sleeping home nightmare monster in room isolated on drawing background.
Neuroscience
Alkermes Pushes Narcolepsy Program to Phase III With ‘Highly Competitive’ Mid-Stage Data
Alixorexton’s Phase II performance sets it up for late-stage success, according to analysts at Truist Securities. Alkermes expects to launch a global late-stage program early next year for narcolepsy type 2.
November 13, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Silver Spring, MD, USA - June 25, 2022: The FDA White Oak Campus, headquarters of the United States Food and Drug Administration, a federal agency of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
Rare diseases
FDA Unwraps ‘Plausible Mechanism Pathway’ for Personalized Therapies
The plausible mechanism pathway “could accelerate gene therapy/editing development,” analysts at William Blair said Thursday, while adding that additional clarity is needed.
November 13, 2025
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3 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Upward arrow on the background of the flag of China. Paper plane. Economic recovery. Copy space. Business. Background.
China
Recently Launched Third Arc Turns to China for Cancer T Cell Engagers
The back-heavy deal includes a $5 million upfront payment for two novel T cell engagers, though the companies have yet to disclose priority indications.
November 13, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Exterior view of the headquarters of the
FDA
FDA Action Alert: BMS, Bayer, Arrowhead and More
One of the FDA’s potential approvals this month could break an existing monopoly in the treatment space for a rare growth disorder.
November 13, 2025
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5 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Boss kick fired employee away form office. concept of lay off or underperform, failure or mistake
Layoffs
Metagenomi Chops 25% of Workforce, CEO To Advance Hemophilia A Program
The strategic initiative will extend Metagenomi’s cash runway into the fourth quarter of 2027. That same year, the company expects to generate initial Phase I data for its lead asset MGX-001 in hemophilia A.
November 12, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
3d fatty liver disease isolated on pink background. 3d illustration render
MASH
Altimmune Poised for $1B+ Opportunity as MASH Drug Aces Phase IIb
Altimmune’s pemvidutide showed “class-leading signals” in non-invasive assessments and has “potentially best-in-class tolerability,” according to analysts at H.C. Wainwright.
November 12, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Isometric businessman tightrope walker is on the rope. Teetering on the cable. Business challenge and risk concept. Simple minimal design. Trendy style graphic. Flat vector illustration.
Business
Phase III Fail Forces Neuphoria Into Strategic Review—With One Investor Offering a Takeover
Aside from offering to acquire all remaining shares of Neuphoria, existing investor Lynx1 Master Fund also announced its plan to nominate directors in the biotech’s upcoming board elections.
November 12, 2025
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1 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Various white pills and capsules forming a map of the world, illustrating humanity's increasing dependency on medication manufacturing.
Drug pricing
How Effective Will TrumpRx and Other Direct-to-Consumer Drug Pricing Initiatives Be?
With pricing pressures climbing, Pfizer, Eli Lilly and other major drugmakers are looking to sell their products directly to patients. Analysts are skeptical that these efforts, including those announced to much fanfare from the White House, will result in meaningful reductions in drug spending.
November 12, 2025
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11 min read
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Tristan Manalac
3d rendering medical heart in yellow background
Cardiovascular disease
Amgen, Merck, Novo, More Take Cardiovascular Benefits to New Heights at AHA 2025
Data presented at this year’s American Heart Association Scientific Sessions in New Orleans underline rapid advancements in the cardiovascular field.
November 11, 2025
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5 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Unhappy young woman feel lonely abandoned in crowd suffer from communication lack. Upset girl struggle with depression or mental disorder. Psychological problem. Flat vector illustration.
Depression
Neurocrine’s Depression Drug Delivers ‘Surprise’ Phase II Miss
The mid-stage failure was unexpected to analysts at BMO Capital Markets, who viewed ‘770 as mostly derisked given its similar mechanism of action to Johnson & Johnson’s Spravato.
November 11, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Changing or transforming, turning around, challenging the odds and conquering adversity, a businessman pole vaulting from the down arrow to the up arrow of growth
Cancer
Cogent Hits ‘Unprecedented’ Efficacy in Rare Stomach Cancer, Clearing Path to FDA
Cogent Biosciences expects to file a new drug application for bezuclastinib in gastrointestinal stromal tumors early next year after what Leerink said was “the first positive trial in this disease in over a decade.”
November 11, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Modern collage with human heart and hands stock illustration
Cardiovascular disease
Ionis’ Tryngolza ‘Game-Changing in Lowering Triglycerides, Cementing Case for FDA Filing
Ionis is planning a supplemental submission by the end of the year to expand Tryngolza into severe hypertriglyceridemia. If granted, William Blair expects the antisense drug to be “transformational” for this indication.
November 10, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
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