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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: Amgen's office in Tampa, Florida
Drug Development
Amgen Phase III Win Positions Uplizna for Label Expansion in Rare Autoimmune Disease
Amgen’s CD19-directed antibody Uplizna in a late-stage study showed it can suppress the risk of flares by nearly 90% in patients with IgG4-related disease, the company announced Wednesday.
June 6, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Novo Nordisk's corporate headquarters in Denmark
Drug Development
Novo’s Ozempic, Wegovy to Face Stiff Generic Competition in China: Reuters
Novo Nordisk will face strong generic competition from at least 15 companies in China for its blockbuster GLP-1 receptor agonist products Wegovy and Ozempic, according to Reuters.
June 6, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Nasdaq signage and building in New York City
Deals
Telix Targets $200M IPO in Hot Radiopharma Market as Biotech Nasdaq Offerings Slow
Telix Pharmaceuticals is looking to cash in on radiopharmaceuticals, which have emerged as one of the hottest spaces in oncology, with an initial public offering to help support its pipeline of targeted radiation products.
June 6, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Facade of Moderna's building in Massachusetts
Policy
Moderna’s mRNA Candidate Joins FDA’s Accelerator Program for Rare Diseases
Moderna on Thursday said its investigational mRNA-based therapy for methylmalonic acidemia has been selected for the FDA’s accelerator program for rare diseases, dubbed START.
June 6, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Eli Lilly's headquarters in Indianapolis
Drug Development
Lilly’s Tirzepatide Shows Positive Phase II NASH Data, Tees Up Potential Expansion
More than 50% of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis patients treated with Eli Lilly’s tirzepatide saw at least a one-stage improvement in fibrosis, according to the pharma’s latest mid-stage readout.
June 5, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Eli Lilly's biotechnology center in San Diego, California
Policy
Lilly’s Zepbound Wins NICE Backing for Obese Patients With Very High BMI
The U.K.’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has endorsed the use of Eli Lilly’s Zepboundfor weight management in patients with BMI of 35 kg/m2 and above and at least one weight-related comorbidity.
June 5, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: 3D illustration of a damaged liver/iStoc
Drug Development
Viking Builds Case for NASH Hopeful With Histological Data
Viking Therapeutics’ nonalcoholic steatohepatitis candidate VK2809 significantly improved secondary histologic endpoints at 52 weeks with no worsening of fibrosis, as assessed by hepatic biopsy.
June 5, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: FDA signage at its office in Washington, DC
Policy
FDA Adcomm Votes Against Lykos’ MDMA-Assisted PTSD Therapy
An FDA advisory committee on Tuesday overwhelmingly rejected Lykos Therapeutics’ investigational MDMA-assisted therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder due to safety concerns and how the company conducted its trials.
June 5, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Doctor points to a heart ultrasound/iSto
Drug Development
BridgeBio Builds on Positive Phase III Data for Acoramidis in ATTR-CM
Additional analyses from BridgeBio Pharma’s late-stage study show the oral drug candidate improved clinical outcomes in transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy patients.
May 30, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Sign outside BioNTech's building in Germany
Business
BioNTech Secures $145M to Boost mRNA Vaccine Capabilities in Africa
As BioNTech struggles to establish its footing in a post-pandemic world, the biotech has secured $145 million from the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations to expand its mRNA operations in Rwanda.
May 30, 2024
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: 3D illustration of the proteasome enzyme
Drug Development
Biohaven’s Phase I Data for Lead Protein Degrader Disappoints Investors
Despite Biohaven’s bispecific protein degrader cutting autoantibody IgG levels by up to 37% in an early-stage study, investors saw it as “below the high bar” of 60%, according to William Blair analysts.
May 30, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
FDA signage at its office in Maryland
FDA
Tris Pharma Gets FDA Approval for Non-Stimulant ADHD Medication
Tris Pharma on Wednesday secured the FDA’s green light for Onyda XR, the first liquid non-stimulant nighttime treatment for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in pediatric patients.
May 30, 2024
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1 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: A scientist with pill bottles in front of FDA headquarters/Taylor Tieden for BioSpace
FDA
FDA Action Alert: Lykos, GSK, BMS and More
In the next two weeks, the FDA is scheduled to decide on four drug applications and hold two highly anticipated advisory committee meetings.
May 30, 2024
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6 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Merck Research Laboratories in South San Francisco, California
Deals
Merck’s Potential $3B EyeBio Acquisition Puts Drugmaker Back in Ophthalmology
Merck on Wednesday announced a deal worth $3 billion to buy EyeBio and its first-in-class trispecific antibody Restoret, marking the pharma’s return to the ophthalmology space after nearly a decade.
May 29, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Doctor holding up a lung x-ray
Drug Development
Insmed Stock Surges After Brensocatib Aces Phase III Lung Disease Study
In a late-stage trial, Insmed’s small molecule DPP1 inhibitor cut yearly exacerbation rates by around 20% in bronchiectasis patients, according to topline data.
May 29, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
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