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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: Bar and line graphs showing increasing t
Drug Development
Bionomics’ PTSD Candidate Clears Phase IIb Study, Stock Jumps 415%
Following disappointing results in a mid-stage social anxiety disorder study, the Australian biotech’s investigational ion channel modulator demonstrated promising effects in patients with post-traumatic stress disorder.
September 29, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: A silhouette of a woman sitting on the f
FDA
Fabre-Kramer Finally Gets FDA Approval for MDD Drug After Decades-Long Quest
After several rejections over 20-plus years, Fabre-Kramer Pharmaceuticals has secured the FDA’s approval for its major depressive disorder drug gepirone hydrochloride, now marketed under the brand name Exxua.
September 29, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: FDA sign at Washington D.C. headquarters
Policy
FDA Action Alert: Amgen, Alnylam and BMS
The FDA will kick off October with an advisory committee meeting for Amgen’s Lumakras and target action dates for Alnylam’s patisiran and Bristol Myers Squibb’s Opdivo.
September 28, 2023
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4 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: J&J sign and office in Ontario/i
Drug Development
J&J’s Rybrevant in Combo with Lazertinib Clears Phase III in NSCLC
Non-small cell lung cancer patients treated with the drug combination saw a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in progression-free survival compared to AstraZeneca’s osimertinib.
September 28, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Person applies eye drops/iStock, megaflo
FDA
FDA Approves Viatris, Ocuphire’s Eye Drops to Reverse Pupil Dilation
The companies on Wednesday secured the regulator’s approval for their eye drop Ryzvumi for the reversal of pharmacologically-induced mydriasis, as Viatris looks to add $1 billion in sales by 2028.
September 28, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing enzyme, 3d illustration
Patient Death Likely from Virus Used to Deliver Gene-Editing Therapy: NEJM Study
The New England Journal of Medicine study suggests that the 2022 death of a Duchenne muscular dystrophy patient was due to an adverse effect of recombinant AAV used to deliver the gene therapy.
September 28, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: AbbVie Corporate Office/iStock, vzphotos
Business
AbbVie Terminates Caribou CAR-T Contract in Culling of Cancer Pipeline
Soon after cancelling its contract with I-Mab, AbbVie has now also turned its back on a partnership with Berkeley-based Caribou Biosciences that was focused on advancing allogeneic CAR-T therapeutics.
September 27, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Concept art showing a broken head figure
Drug Development
Alto Reports Positive Phase II PTSD Data After Mid-Stage MDD Win
Following promising results in major depressive disorder, Alto Neuroscience on Tuesday reported positive data for its investigational drug ALTO-100 in post-traumatic stress disorder.
September 27, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Entrance to the U.S. Department of Healt
Policy
AstraZeneca, BMS Reluctantly Agree to Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program
Despite filing respective lawsuits challenging the program, AstraZeneca and Bristol Myers Squibb have decided to participate in the first round of price negotiations under the Inflation Reduction Act.
September 27, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Gloved hand holding a collection tube for a triglyceride test
Drug Development
Ionis Notches Phase III Win in Rare Genetic Disease, Plans to Submit NDA
The company’s olezarsen cleared a late-stage study, eliciting a sharp reduction in triglyceride levels in patients with familial chylomicronemia syndrome. Ionis plans to submit a New Drug Application to the FDA.
September 26, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Facade of Takeda's office in Massachusetts
Business
Takeda Puts Nearly $600M on the Line for AcuraStem’s ALS Program
The Japanese multinational pharma is pledging up to $580 million in a development and commercialization deal with AcuraStem for the latter’s PIKFYVE program for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
September 26, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Novartis' logo outside its building in S
Drug Development
Novartis’ Lutathera Clears Phase III as Frontline Treatment for Rare Neuroendocrine Cancer
The Swiss pharma is one step closer to bringing Lutathera into the front-line setting, with data from the Phase III NETTER-2 study showing that the radiotherapy met its primary endpoint.
September 26, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Update: AbbVie headquarters building in California
Business
AbbVie Ends I-Mab Deal for CD47 Antibody Compounds, Products
After dropping an early-stage study more than a year ago, AbbVie has finally terminated its CD47 collaboration with I-Mab, leaving up to $1.3 billion in potential milestone payments on the table.
September 25, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Merck building and sign in Silicon Valley
Drug Development
Merck, Eisai Post Back-to-Back Phase III NSCLC Failures for Keytruda-Lenvima Combo
The losing streak continues for Merck and Eisai with their Keytruda-Lenvima combination failing to improve progression-free survival and overall survival in two late-stage lung cancer studies.
September 25, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Woman grasping her stomach in pain/iStoc
Drug Development
Morphic’s Ulcerative Colitis Pill Misses Expectations in Mid-Stage Study, Stock Falls
Despite meeting the primary endpoint and eliciting endoscopic improvements in ulcerative colitis, Morphic Therapeutic’s investigational pill underwhelmed investors with its stock plummeting.
September 25, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
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