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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.

Signage at Pfizer's world headquarters in New York City
Manufacturing
Pfizer Prepared to Reshore Manufacturing if Trump Makes Good on Tariff Threats
Last week, Eli Lilly also responded to the President’s tariff warnings by investing $27 billion to construct four manufacturing facilities across the U.S. in five years.
March 4, 2025
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Tristan Manalac
A white blood cell charging an ADC/
Antibody-drug conjugate (ADC)
AstraZeneca and Daiichi Sankyo’s Enhertu Enhances Stomach Cancer Case With Phase III Win
The partners are pushing to expand Enhertu’s list of indications beyond its standing uses in breast, lung and gastric cancers.
March 4, 2025
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Tristan Manalac
Business consultant. Hands help a businessman is falling from a graph vector
Neuropsychiatric disorders
Biohaven Disappoints Again, This Time in Phase II/III Bipolar Mania Trial
Biohaven in recent months has reported a clinical stumble in spinal muscular atrophy, alongside a Phase I readout for its protein degrader candidate that investors found underwhelming.
March 4, 2025
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Tristan Manalac
AbbVie's office in South San Francisco, California
Obesity
Obesity Late-Comer AbbVie Inks up to $2.2B Amylin Deal With Gubra
AbbVie is joining the amylin arena, though the pharma is still far behind leaders Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly.
March 3, 2025
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Tristan Manalac
The EMA's former headquarters in London
Europe
Biogen, Eisai Continue Leqembi’s European Rally as CHMP Reaffirms Positive Opinion
Leqembi’s application now moves forward to the European Commission, which will issue a formal verdict for the injection that will apply to all EU member states as well as Norway, Liechtenstein and Iceland.
March 3, 2025
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Tristan Manalac
Beautiful colorful unpeeled peanut pattern on a light blue background. Flat lay arrangement, top view.
Immunology and inflammation
First Head-to-Head Study Cements Roche’s Xolair as Food Allergy Leader
Roche’s asthma drug Xolair appears to be safer and more effective than oral immunotherapy at treating adults and children with one or more food allergies.
March 3, 2025
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Tristan Manalac
Human Nose Like Worker Is Going To Work. Vector Collage Illustration Against The Background Of The City
Immunology and inflammation
AstraZeneca, Amgen’s Phase III Win Strengthens Case for Tezspire Expansion
The partners are building toward a regulatory submission for Tezspire in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps in the first half of 2025.
March 3, 2025
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Eli Lilly's headquarters in Indianapolis
Collaboration
Lilly Hops On Hot Molecular Glue Train With $1.2B+ Magnet Deal
The molecular glue space has attracted several Big Pharma players over the past few years, including Novo Nordisk, Pfizer and Novartis.
February 28, 2025
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Tristan Manalac
3D illustration of an RNA molecule
Cardiovascular disease
Silence Quiets Phase III Pace for Lipoprotein Drug, Seeks Partner
The search for a partner for zerlasiran is ongoing, according to Silence. In the meantime, the biotech will focus its resources on divesiran, which it is testing for polycythemia vera and other hematologic indications.
February 28, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Contemporary art collage of a hand holding scissors. Copy space for ad. Modern design.
Pipeline
Mission Nixes Preclinical Studies, Falls Back on Clinical Candidates
Mission Therapeutics is down to its clinical assets MTX652 and MTX325, which work by disabling a key enzyme that interferes with the cell’s normal process of removing faulty or dysfunctional mitochondria.
February 28, 2025
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Tristan Manalac
Illustration of two hands shaking while another hand gently grips a wrist
Collaboration
Cassava’s Stock Rises After Licensing Seizure Rights for Embattled Drug Simufilam
The licensing deal follows years of controversy for Cassava, as well as the high-profile late-stage failure of its Alzheimer’s disease drug simufilam.
February 28, 2025
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Tristan Manalac
Weigh scales on pink background, top view with space for text. Overweight concept
Weight loss
Kallyope Discreetly Drops Disappointing Data for Oral Obesity Candidate
While Kallyope’s drugs are mechanistically unique, the biotech is competing in a crowded space, with other therapies that appear to elicit superior weight-loss.
February 27, 2025
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Regeneron logo on a light brown building
Lymphoma
Regeneron Narrows Approval Aspirations for Lymphoma Bispecific, Citing ‘Competitor Developments’
The company will push through with an accelerated approval application for odronextamab in follicular lymphoma, leaving diffuse large B cell lymphoma behind.
February 27, 2025
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Eli Lilly's headquarters in Indianapolis
Manufacturing
Lilly Puts $27B Into U.S. Manufacturing Bump Following Trump’s Tariff Threats
The move comes after President Donald Trump warned Big Pharma leaders that he would impose tariffs on them if they refuse to reshore their manufacturing operations.
February 27, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: A syringe broken in half with long hallway in background/Nicole Bean for BioSpace
Vaccines
Meeting of FDA’s Vaccines Advisory Panel Canceled as Kennedy Settles Into HHS
The back-to-back high-level disruptions in vaccine policy under Robert F. Kennedy Jr. comes as the U.S. records its first death from measles since 2015.
February 27, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
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