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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.

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Funding
Eikon Adds Nearly $351M to Conquer Phase III Development in Melanoma
Eikon’s lead candidate, EIK1001, is being tested for advanced melanoma. The candidate is currently in late-stage development, which the biotech will fund using Wednesday’s series D raise.
February 26, 2025
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1 min read
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Tristan Manalac
External view of the U.S. Capitol building
Government
Congress Re-Introduces EPIC Act to Remove IRA’s ‘Pill Penalty’
While many industry players and observers have high hopes for the EPIC Act, some say budgetary headwinds could make it difficult for the current administration to make meaningful repeals or amendments to the IRA.
February 26, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Deviation from the plan, path or norms. Choosing an alternative way, changing the plans and flexibility.
Pipeline
Kiniksa Axes Sjögren’s Program, AstraZeneca-Licensed Antibody in Cardio Pivot
Kiniksa will now focus its development efforts on the IL-1 blocker KPL-387, which it is testing for recurrent pericarditis with Phase II/III trials planned for mid-2025.
February 26, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
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Neuroscience
Emalex Heads to FDA After Phase III Tourette Syndrome Win
Emalex is gearing up for a New Drug Application for ecopipam in Tourette syndrome later this year.
February 26, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Facade of Takeda's office in Massachusetts
Collaboration
Takeda Pumps $770M Into Another BridGene Pact to Hit ‘Undruggable’ Targets
BridGene strikes another partnership with Takeda as the latter company continues its dealmaking streak, following high-ticket agreements with Keros Therapeutics, AC Immune and Degron Therapeutics in the past nine months.
February 25, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Loss of one drug name. Ban on a drug or its shortage. Exclusion from the list of free drugs available under the medical social program.
Drug shortages
Compounders Sue FDA for Declaring Ozempic, Wegovy Shortage Over
The Outsourcing Facilities Association, a trade group representing compounders, filed a similar lawsuit in October last year after the FDA formally ended the tirzepaptide shortage.
February 25, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Johnson & Johnson's business center in Switzerland
Legal
J&J Takes Samsung Bioepis to Court Over ‘Unlawful’ Stelara Biosimilar Sublicense
Samsung Bioepis allegedly entered into an agreement with a third-party health company, allowing it to market its own private label of a Stelara biosimilar.
February 25, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
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IPO
‘Valentine’s Day Massacre’: Deerfield Claims Alcon is Blocking Aurion’s IPO
Deerfield Management claims that Alcon Research is seeking a discounted takeover of Aurion Biotech while blocking the startup’s efforts to go public.
February 25, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
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Infectious disease
Small Harvard Start-Up Launches to Fight Huge Problem of Antimicrobial Resistance
The World Health Organization names antimicrobial resistance as one of the most urgent public health threats, but it remains an unattractive target for the pharmaceutical industry due to its weak profitability.
February 24, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
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Government
Trump Threatens Big Pharma With Tariffs—Unless They Reshore Manufacturing: Bloomberg
President Trump also refused to promise pharma execs that he would hamstring the IRA’s drug negotiation program.
February 24, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
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Approvals
Mirum Establishes Liver Expertise With First FDA Nod for ‘Very Rare’ Disease
Ctexli’s approval further entrenches Mirum as a leader in rare liver diseases, alongside its cornerstone product Livmarli and upcoming drug volixibat.
February 24, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
FDA signage at its headquarters in Maryland
Government
FDA to Rehire Scientists After Trump’s Firing Spree: Reuters
Around 300 FDA staffers laid off last week are being asked to return. So far, the Trump administration has terminated some 1,000 employees from the agency.
February 24, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
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Pain
Vertex’s Journavx Changes the Pain Treatment Landscape But Opioids Here to Stay
Non-opioid pain therapies are entering an unprecedented era, marked by the landmark FDA approval of Vertex’s Journavx and a growing number of alternative approaches. Their ultimate uptake, however, remains to be seen.
February 24, 2025
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9 min read
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Tristan Manalac
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Mergers & acquisitions
Concentra Offers to Buy Acelyrin, Endangering Proposed Merger With Alumis
Acelyrin earlier this month agreed to an all-stock merger with fellow immune player Alumis, with their combined cash tiding the combined company over until 2027.
February 21, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Signage at Pfizer's world headquarters in New York City
Gene therapy
Pfizer Axes Beqvez Worldwide, Pivoting Away From Gene Therapy for Hemophilia
The move comes weeks after Pfizer terminated its partnership with Sangamo Therapeutics for another hemophilia gene therapy.
February 21, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
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