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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: San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge/iStoc
In Second Fund, Pivotal Raises $389M to Create and Support Transformative Companies
The new fund brings Pivotal bioVenture Partners’ total capital to $689 million, which the venture capital firm intends to pump into young biotechs developing “innovative and impactful therapeutics.”
December 18, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Facade of Moderna's building in Massachusetts
Policy
FDA Finds Quality Control Problems at Moderna’s Vaccine Facility: Reuters
There is no evidence that the lapses have harmed patients who received Spikevax or clinical trial participants who received investigational shots.
December 18, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Illumina headquarters in California/iSto
Policy
Illumina Loses Long Antitrust Battle, Readies to Divest GRAIL
Following a U.S. appeals court decision, the company said it is preparing to divest GRAIL through a third-party sale or capital markets transaction.
December 18, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Pfizer's signage outside its office in Canada/iStock, JHVEPhoto
Business
Pfizer Inks Potential $1B ADC Deal with Nona, Closes Seagen Acquisition
Amid falling COVID-19 revenues, Pfizer continues to invest in antibody-drug conjugates in a deal with Nona Biosciences worth $1 billion as its $43 billion Seagen buy closed on Thursday.
December 15, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: FDA signage at its office in Washington, DC
FDA
FDA Approves First Oral High-Risk Neuroblastoma Maintenance Therapy
Despite the lack of a randomized clinical trial to support eflornithine’s efficacy, the regulator approved US WorldMeds’ oral maintenance treatment for high-risk neuroblastoma in adults and children.
December 15, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Syringe resting on top of a vaccine vial, with more vaccine bottles in the background
Policy
Sanofi, AstraZeneca Promise 230K More Doses of RSV Infant Shots for US
At the urging of the Biden administration, Sanofi and AstraZeneca are pledging 230,000 additional doses of their respiratory syncytial virus infant immunization Beyfortus in January 2024.
December 15, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: The U.S. Supreme Court building in Washi
Policy
Supreme Court Takes Up Abortion Pill Case, Decision Expected Amid 2024 Election
The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to the Biden administration’s request to review lower-court rulings that would curtail access to the abortion pill mifepristone, with a decision expected in the summer.
December 14, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Businessmen shaking hands after closing a deal
Deals
Pharma, Life Sciences Sector to See Healthy M&A Activity in 2024: PwC
After a “reasonably strong year” in 2023, next year will see “similar levels” of M&A activity with increased investor interest in weight loss and cardiovascular diseases, contends professional services firm PwC.
December 14, 2023
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3 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Man emptying a bottle of pills onto his
Drug Development
Vertex Non-Opioid Pain Candidate Shows Promising Phase II Results
The company’s non-opioid painkiller candidate VX-548 decreased Numerical Pain Rating Scale scores by at least two points after 12 weeks in a mid-stage diabetic peripheral neuropathy study.
December 13, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: FDA sign at its office in Washington, DC/iStock, JHVEPhoto
Policy
FDA Action Alert: Calliditas, Ionis/AstraZeneca, Amgen and More
The year may be coming to a close, but there’s no holiday break for the FDA, which will release five regulatory verdicts over the next two weeks.
December 13, 2023
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4 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: The Berlaymont building, which houses th
Policy
EU Lists Hundreds of Critical Medicines in Effort to Prevent Shortages
Medicines on the list can still be prescribed but will be under tight monitoring by a regulatory network, which can implement measures to prevent shortages and ensure supply chain continuity.
December 13, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
FDA signage at its office in Maryland
Policy
FDA Creates Adcomm for Genetic Metabolic Diseases and Potential Treatments
Ahead of an expected surge in regulatory filings, the FDA is establishing the Genetic Metabolic Diseases Advisory Committee to provide advice on treatments for these complex and challenging conditions.
December 13, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: AstraZeneca signage at its office in Sweden
Deals
AstraZeneca Buys into RSV Vaccine Market with Potential $1.1B Icosavax Purchase
With the acquisition, AstraZeneca will gain access to Icosavax’s investigational combination vaccine IVX-A12, which is being developed for respiratory syncytial virus and human metapneumovirus in older adults.
December 12, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Bristol Myers Squibb in NJ/iStock, arlut
Business
BMS Inks Potential $8.4B Deal for SystImmune’s ADC for Lung, Breast Cancer
Bristol Myers Squibb has bought the rights to develop and commercialize SystImmune’s potentially first-in-class, bi-specific antibody-drug conjugate for lung and breast cancer as well as other solid tumors.
December 12, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Facade of Sanofi's headquarters in Franc
Policy
Sanofi Drops Acquisition of Maze’s Pompe Disease Drug After FTC Challenge
Following the regulator’s administrative complaint and threat of a lawsuit in federal court, Sanofi has decided to terminate its licensing deal with Maze Therapeutics to avoid a long litigation process.
December 12, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
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