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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: GSK laboratories in Dresden, Germany
Drug Development
GSK Builds Case for Blenrep’s Comeback with Promising Phase III Data
A year after exiting the U.S. market, GSK is setting the stage for the antibody-drug conjugate’s possible return in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma.
November 27, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Facade of Novo Nordisk's office in Fremont, California
Novo Warns EU of GLP-1 Drug Shortages, Expands Production at French Site
Novo Nordisk is diverting manufacturing capacity away from its older GLP-1 drug Victoza in order to cater to sky-high Ozempic demand.
November 27, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Red line graph showing a downward trend/
Drug Development
InDex Scraps Phase III Ulcerative Colitis Trial on Disappointing Data
After a negative review by an Independent Data Monitoring Committee, InDex Pharmaceuticals has decided to discontinue the late-stage CONCLUDE program evaluating its cobitolimod in ulcerative colitis.
November 22, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Facade of Moderna's building in Massachusetts
Policy
European Patent Office Declares One of Moderna’s mRNA Patents Invalid
Pfizer and BioNTech scored a win over Moderna on Tuesday as the European Patent Office decided that a key patent held by the Massachusetts biotech related to its COVID-19 vaccine is invalid.
November 22, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Cancer cell in the bloodstream/iStock, D
Drug Development
ASH Preview: Darzalex Faspro in Multiple Myeloma, Imbruvica-Venclexta in Mantle Cell Lymphoma
J&J, AbbVie, Genmab and Genentech are presenting new data at next month’s American Society of Hematology meeting on the therapeutic potential of their therapies in multiple myeloma and mantle cell lymphoma.
November 22, 2023
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3 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Businessmen shaking hands after closing a deal
Business
BeiGene Inks Potential $1.3B Deal with Ensem for Early-Stage CDK2 Inhibitor
The biotech company has bought the global rights to an investigational oral CDK2 inhibitor from Ensem Therapeutics in a licensing agreement valued at up to $1.33 billion if all milestones are met.
November 21, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Bristol Myers Squibb in NJ/iStock, arlut
Policy
FDA Delays Decision on BMS, 2seventy bio’s Push for Earlier Line Abecma Treatment
The regulator has decided to hold an advisory committee meeting regarding BMS and 2seventy bio’s bid to move the CAR-T cell therapy into earlier lines of treatment, missing its previous target action date of Dec. 16.
November 21, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Scans of human brain /iStock, Nur Ceren
Drug Development
With New Phase III Data in Hand, Servier Eyes FDA Filing for Glioma Candidate
Vorasidenib decreased tumor volume by a mean of 2.5% every six months, compared to growth of 13.9% for placebo over the same time span. The candidate is also being tested in a regimen with Keytruda.
November 20, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Bayer's office in New Jersey
Drug Development
Outclassed by Eliquis, Bayer Halts Atrial Fibrillation Study of Factor XIa Inhibitor
Bayer’s investigational factor XIa inhibitor asundexian was inferior to BMS’ and Pfizer’s blockbuster blood thinner Eliquis (apixaban) in the Phase III OCEANIC-AF study.
November 20, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Nasdaq signage and building in New York City
Deals
Playing in the Hot Obesity Market, Carmot Braves Chilly IPO Waters
Armed with a pipeline of obesity and diabetes hopefuls, Carmot Therapeutics joins the small group of biotechs to attempt a Nasdaq debut this year.
November 20, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Merck Research Laboratories in South San Francisco, California
FDA
Merck Expands Keytruda’s Label as a First-Line Option for Gastric Cancer
The company won the third FDA approval in a month for the anti-PD-1 blockbuster, allowing its first-line use in locally advanced unresectable or metastatic gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma.
November 17, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Eli Lilly's headquarters in Indianapolis
Drug Development
Lilly Invests $2.5B in German Plant Amid Explosive Demand for Obesity Drugs
To help cope with the high demand for weight-loss treatments, Eli Lilly is investing $2.5 billion in a German manufacturing facility after last week’s FDA approval of Zepbound for chronic weight management.
November 17, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Update: AbbVie headquarters building in California
Drug Development
AbbVie’s Migraine Drug Ubrelvy Scores Victory in Phase III Study
When given hours ahead of an expected episode, a late-stage study showed the preventive benefits of Ubrelvy in safely reducing moderate or severe headaches within 24 hours of treatment.
November 17, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: 3D illustration of the CRISPR-Cas9 system editing a stretch of DNA
Policy
Vertex, CRISPR Win World’s First Approval for CRISPR-Edited Therapy from UK
The U.K.’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency on Thursday provided conditional marketing authorization for Vertex Pharmaceuticals and CRISPR Therapeutics’ gene-edited therapy exa-cel.
November 16, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Facade of Novo Nordisk's office in Fremont, California
Drug Development
Novo Takes Aim at Lilly’s Zepbound in Head-to-Head Trial Versus Wegovy Combo
Just a week after it secured FDA approval, Eli Lilly’s Zepbound now faces a challenge from Novo Nordisk’s investigational next-generation weight-loss candidate CagriSema in a Phase III trial.
November 16, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
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