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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: Nasdaq headquarters in New York/iStock,
Deals
Bayer, Moderna-Backed Metagenomi’s Stock Crashes 31% in Friday IPO Debut
Shares of preclinical genetic medicines company Metagenomi tanked more than 30% on Friday afternoon in a disappointing debut for its initial public offering, bucking the trend of positive IPOs so far this year.
February 12, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Woman scratching her wrist/iStock, Image
Business
Medicxi Combines Six Portfolio Companies with $100M to Launch Alys Pharma
Merging six of its portfolio biotechs, Medicxi on Monday unveiled Alys Pharmaceuticals, an immuno-dermatology focused company seeking to deliver up to 10 proof-of-concept readouts by the end of 2026.
February 12, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Facade of Novo Nordisk's office in Fremont, California
Policy
Novo Claims First Victories in Legal Fight Against Compounded Semaglutide
Two Florida courts have sided with Novo Nordisk against Ekzotika and Effinger Health, agreeing that their compounded versions of semaglutide are against the law. The Danish pharma has reached confidential settlements with both companies.
February 12, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Facade of Takeda's office in Massachusetts
Drug Development
Takeda Pushes One Narcolepsy Program into Phase III, Discontinues Another
Following promising Phase IIb studies, Takeda will advance its oral ORX2 agonist TAK-861 into Phase III studies for narcolepsy type 1, while nixing the candidate’s development in narcolepsy type 2.
February 9, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Nasdaq building in Time Square
Deals
Kyverna’s Stock Price Surges Nearly 60% After Successful Upsized IPO
Investors drove up the price of Kyverna Therapeutics’ stock by 59% in its initial public offering on Thursday afternoon, the first day of trading, reaching a peak per-share price of $35.01.
February 9, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: 3D illustration of stem cells used for cell therapy
Neurona Raises $120M, Buoyed by Early-Stage Data for Epilepsy Cell Therapy
Neurona Therapeutics will use the funds to advance its investigational regenerative neural cell therapy NRTX-1001 for mesial temporal lobe epilepsy, the most common form of focal epilepsy.
February 9, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Nasdaq headquarters in New York/iStock,
Deals
Kyverna’s $319M Upsized IPO Is Latest in Surge of Biotechs Going Public
On Thursday, Kyverna Therapeutics is debuting on the Nasdaq with an upsized initial public offering which the biotech will use to support its pipeline of anti-CD19 CAR T therapy candidates.
February 8, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
External view of AstraZeneca's production plant in Sweden
Business
AstraZeneca Sees 6% Revenue Growth in 2023 Despite Plummeting COVID-19 Sales
Thursday’s full-year financial results from AstraZeneca showed a revenue crash of more than 90% for COVID-19 medicines, while cancer, cardiovascular and rare diseases all generated double-digit revenue growth.
February 8, 2024
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3 min read
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Tristan Manalac
The EMA's former headquarters in London
Policy
EU Regulator Investigates Potential Impacts of Novo-Catalent Deal on Drug Supply
The European Medicines Agency is looking into how Novo Holdings’ recently announced $16.5 billion acquisition of contract manufacturer Catalent might affect the availability of drugs.
February 8, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Doctor administers eye drops to a boy/iS
Drug Development
Eyedrop Version of Krystal’s Gene Therapy Vyjuvek Restores Sight in Teen
Under the FDA’s compassionate use program, an eyedrop formulation of Krystal Biotech’s Vyjuvek restored the vision of a teenager with the rare genetic disease dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa.
February 8, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictures (left to right): Tadd Wessel, Samuel Hall
Industry Veterans Launch $310M VC Fund for Biotech Startups
Venture capital firm Scion Life Sciences, led by investors Samuel Hall, Aaron Kantoff and Tadd Wessel, seeks to establish biotechs through to maturity as late- or commercial-stage companies.
February 7, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Eli Lilly's biotechnology center in San Diego, California
Business
Lilly to Boost Manufacturing Capacity to Support Weight-Loss Pill Candidate
Eli Lilly on Tuesday said it is already making manufacturing investments for orforglipron, its next-generation oral weight-loss candidate that recently moved into Phase III development.
February 7, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Gilead's corporate headquarters in Silicon Valley
Drug Development
Gilead’s Q4 Revenue Slips on Weaker HIV and COVID-19 Sales, Amid Phase III Flops
Hit with lower sales of its COVID-19 antiviral Veklury and the weak performance of its HIV franchise, Gilead Sciences reported a 4% year-over-year revenue loss in the fourth quarter of 2023.
February 7, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Magnetic resonance imaging scans of the brain
Business
Eisai to Likely Miss Patient Goal for Leqembi by End of March 2024
Thanks to a rough launch of its Biogen-partnered Alzheimer’s disease treatment, Eisai will likely miss its target of treating 10,000 patients with Leqembi by the end of March 2024.
February 7, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Entrance to Vertex's office in Boston, Massachusetts
Drug Development
Vertex’s Cystic Fibrosis Triple Combo Aces Pivotal Phase III Program
The company’s three-drug combination met all primary and key secondary endpoints in two randomized controlled trials in cystic fibrosis patients, paving the way for an application to regulators.
February 6, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
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