SUBSCRIBE
SUBSCRIBE
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: A sign with the Merck logo surrounded by
Drug Development
Merck’s Keytruda Poised for Bladder Cancer Expansion with New Phase III Data
Keytruda’s winning streak in bladder continues with positive data from the Phase III AMBASSADOR study, showing significantly better disease-free survival in muscle-invasive urothelial carcinoma.
October 6, 2023
 · 
2 min read
 · 
Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Amgen's office in Massachusetts/iStock,
Policy
Amgen Fails to Secure FDA Adcomm Support for Full Lumakras Approval
Data from a confirmatory study could not be reliably interpreted, according to the Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee, which voted against Amgen’s request for full approval of its G12C KRAS inhibitor.
October 6, 2023
 · 
2 min read
 · 
Tristan Manalac
Facade of the FDA's office in Maryland
Policy
FDA Puts Innate’s Lymphoma Trials on Partial Hold After Patient Death
Following a fatality due to the rare blood disease hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, the regulator slapped a partial clinical hold on two studies of Innate Pharma’s investigational therapy lacutamab.
October 5, 2023
 · 
2 min read
 · 
Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Four businesspeople giving their thumbs
Policy
FDA Adcomm Backs Neuroblastoma Treatment, Even Without RCT Data
Despite the lack of a randomized controlled trial for US WorldMeds’ investigational drug, an FDA advisory committee found that the company provided adequate data to support its benefit in high-risk neuroblastoma.
October 5, 2023
 · 
2 min read
 · 
Tristan Manalac
Pictured: J&J's building in Switzerland
Drug Development
J&J’s Spravato Bests Quetiapine in Phase III Head-to-Head Depression Study
Patients with treatment-resistant depression treated with Johnson & Johnson’s Spravato were significantly more likely to reach remission and stay relapse-free for up to 32 weeks.
October 5, 2023
 · 
2 min read
 · 
Tristan Manalac
Pictured: 3D illustration of the CRISPR-Cas9 system editing a stretch of DNA
Business
Regeneron, Intellia Expand CRISPR Pact to Neurological and Muscular Diseases
The companies are expanding their long-standing CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing collaboration for the second time, now seeking to target neurological and muscular conditions.
October 4, 2023
 · 
2 min read
 · 
Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Illustration of pancreas/iStock, Rasi Bh
Drug Development
Vertex Touts Promising Data for Stem Cell-Based Type 1 Diabetes Treatment
New Phase I/II trial results show that one more type 1 diabetes patient achieved insulin independence after treatment with Vertex Pharmaceuticals’ investigational stem cell therapy VX-880.
October 4, 2023
 · 
2 min read
 · 
Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Entrance to the U.S. Department of Healt
Policy
Ten Companies Register to Participate in Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program
Despite lawsuits by some companies challenging the negotiations under the Inflation Reduction Act, the manufacturers of the first 10 drugs selected for Medicare price talks will participate in the program.
October 4, 2023
 · 
2 min read
 · 
Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Eli Lilly Campus in San Diego
Deals
Lilly Deepens Oncology Pipeline with $1.4B Point Biopharma Purchase
Eli Lilly on Tuesday continued its buying spree with a $1.4 billion acquisition of the radiopharma company’s pipeline of clinical and preclinical radioligand therapies.
October 3, 2023
 · 
2 min read
 · 
Tristan Manalac
External view of Novartis' office in Canada
Drug Development
Novartis Clears Phase III in IgAN, Eyes Regulatory Path for Complement Inhibitor
The Swiss pharma will seek accelerated approval for iptacopan in IgA nephropathy next year after the complement blocker demonstrated promising efficacy in the Phase III APPLAUSE-IgAN study.
October 3, 2023
 · 
2 min read
 · 
Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Boehringer Ingelheim's office in California
Boehringer Offers Unbranded Biosimilar at 81% Discount to AbbVie’s Humira
German biopharma Boehringer Ingelheim is now offering an unbranded version of its interchangeable biosimilar to the AbbVie blockbuster arthritis drug at a deep discount.
October 3, 2023
 · 
2 min read
 · 
Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Eli Lilly's headquarters in Indianapolis
Policy
FDA Rejects Lilly’s Eczema Treatment Over Third-Party Manufacturing Issues
Eli Lilly’s Biologic License Application for its monoclonal antibody lebrikizumab was denied by the regulator after issues were found at a third-party contract manufacturing organization.
October 2, 2023
 · 
2 min read
 · 
Tristan Manalac
Pictured: A wooden gavel on a table with a book in
Policy
Federal Judge Denies Request to Block Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program
Judge Michael Newman of the Southern District of Ohio issued a ruling Friday denying the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s request for a preliminary injunction against the Inflation Reduction Act provisions.
October 2, 2023
 · 
2 min read
 · 
Tristan Manalac
Pictured: IPO concept art showing stacks of coins
Deals
Lexeo, Abivax File for IPOs on Nasdaq Amid Industry-Wide Drought
Despite a sharp downturn in initial public offering activity, New York-based gene therapy company Lexeo Therapeutics and French biotech Abivax are seeking funding for their lead candidate programs.
October 2, 2023
 · 
2 min read
 · 
Tristan Manalac
Pictured: 3D illustration of a damaged liver/iStoc
Madrigal Pursues $500M Public Offering with NASH Market Up for Grabs
With Intercept’s failure to emerge as the nonalcoholic steatohepatitis market leader, Madrigal Pharmaceuticals is seeking to take leadership of the space fueled by a half-a-billion-dollar public offering.
September 29, 2023
 · 
3 min read
 · 
Tristan Manalac
Load More