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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: 3D rendering of amyloid-beta oligomers
Drug Development
Anavex’s Blarcamesine Slows Cognitive Decline in Alzheimer’s Patients
Following a controversial Rett Syndrome trial last year, Anavex Life Sciences’ blarcamesine has claimed another clinical victory—this time in an Alzheimer’s disease Phase IIb/III study.
September 15, 2023
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Alexion headquarters in California/iStoc
Policy
AstraZeneca’s Alexion Reaches $125M Settlement in Soliris Sales Lawsuit
After nearly seven years, the company’s rare diseases arm Alexion has reached a settlement in an investors’ lawsuit over alleged unethical sales practices for its hemoglobinuria therapy Soliris.
September 15, 2023
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Pile of money/iStock, Ihor Lukianenko
Generate Raises $273M in Series C Financing with New Investors Amgen, NVIDIA
In the largest biotech Series C financing so far this year, Generate:Biomedicines picked up new investors including Amgen and NVIDIA’s venture capital arm to advance its pipeline of 17 programs.
September 14, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: AbbVie Corporate Office/iStock, vzphotos
Business
AbbVie Passes on License Option for Harpoon’s TriTAC Multiple Myeloma Program
The company declined to exercise the license option for Harpoon Therapeutics’ TriTAC HPN217 program for multiple myeloma, which targets B cell maturation antigen, or BCMA.
September 14, 2023
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Facade of Moderna's building in Massachusetts
Drug Development
Moderna Axes Four Clinical Development Programs, Two AstraZeneca Had Dropped
During Wednesday’s annual R&D Day, Moderna said it is culling four programs from its pipeline, including two molecules that had been discontinued last year by AstraZeneca.
September 14, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Illustration of liver surrounded by hepa
Drug Development
Eiger Discontinues Phase III Hepatitis Study Due to Safety Concerns
Following cases of hepatobiliary toxicity leading to liver decompensation, Eiger has decided to drop its Phase III LIMT-2 trial of peginterferon lambda in chronic hepatitis delta.
September 13, 2023
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Tristan Manalac
Update: AbbVie headquarters building in California
Drug Development
AbbVie’s Skyrizi Outperforms J&J’s Stelara in Late-Stage Crohn’s Disease Trial
Continuing its clinical win streak, AbbVie’s Skyrizi showed signs of superiority against Johnson & Johnson’s Stelara in topline data from a head-to-head Phase III Crohn’s disease study.
September 13, 2023
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: X-ray illustration with the adrenal glan
Drug Development
Neurocrine’s Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia Candidate Clears Phase III
Topline data for the company’s CRF1 antagonist crinecerfont showed a significant drop in daily glucocorticoid dose, while maintaining androgen control in adult patients with the genetic disorder.
September 13, 2023
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Illustration depicting large layoffs/iSt
Business
2seventy to Lay Off 40% of Workforce, CEO to Depart in Reorganization
Citing a challenging macro environment, 2seventy bio is launching a sweeping strategic reorganization that will see 40% of its staff laid off and CEO Nick Leschly stepping down.
September 12, 2023
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3 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Novartis headquarters in Basel, Switzerl
Business
Sandoz to Commercialize Samsung Bioepis’ Biosimilar to J&J’s Stelara
As the Novartis generics and biosimilars division nears its spin-off, Sandoz has signed a commercialization agreement with Samsung Bioepis, gaining rights to the latter’s Stelara biosimilar.
September 12, 2023
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Close-up of a skin lesion in a patient w
Drug Development
Acelyrin’s Lead Asset Izokibep Fails in Late-Stage Hidradenitis Suppurativa Trial
Following a $540 million IPO in May, Acelyrin’s lead candidate izokibep failed to meet the primary endpoint in a Phase IIb/III study of patients with the chronic inflammatory skin condition.
September 12, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Facade of Novartis building in Switzerland
Deals
Novartis Drops Eye Disease Gene Therapy from $800M Gyroscope Acquisition
Following a Phase II review, Novartis has cut the development of a gene therapy candidate for geographic atrophy. In June, the company sold a dry eye disease drug to Bauch + Lomb for $1.75 billion.
September 11, 2023
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Test-tube containing a patient's sample
Drug Development
Crinetics Aces Phase III in Rare Disease Acromegaly with Once-Daily Pill
The California pharma is building up to its first-ever approval with promising late-stage data for its once-daily investigational acromegaly pill paltusotine, an alternative to the injectable standard of care.
September 11, 2023
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Tristan Manalac
Gilead's corporate headquarters in Silicon Valley
Drug Development
Gilead’s Trodelvy Shows Potential as First-Line Treatment in NSCLC
The first-in-class antibody-drug conjugate—in combination with Merck’s Keytruda—has shown promising results in a Phase II study of patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer.
September 11, 2023
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Tristan Manalac
AstraZeneca's sign on its office in California
Business
AstraZeneca Signs AI-Powered Drug Discovery Pact with Verge
Seeking to deepen its neurology and rare disease pipelines, AstraZeneca’s Alexion has joined forces with Verge Genomics to leverage its artificial intelligence platform in drug discovery and development.
September 8, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
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