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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: Teva U.S. headquarters in New Jersey/iSt
Business
Alvotech Expands Biosimilar Collaboration with Teva Amid Manufacturing Woes
Following two BLA rejections for its Humira biosimilar, Alvotech is expanding its partnership with Teva Pharmaceuticals, which will enable the latter to have greater involvement with quality and control.
July 25, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Alnylam headquarters in Massachusetts/iS
Business
Roche, Alnylam Ink Potential $2.8B RNAi Partnership for Hypertension
With an upfront payment of $310 million in cash, Roche is partnering with Alnylam to develop the latter’s RNA interference candidate zilebesiran for hypertension patients with high cardiovascular risk.
July 24, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Gilead's corporate headquarters in Silicon Valley
Drug Development
Gilead Ends Late-Stage Trial for Magrolimab in Blood Cancer Treatment
Despite the lifting of the FDA’s partial clinical hold, Gilead will discontinue magrolimab’s development in higher-risk myelodysplastic syndromes after a Phase III study met the bar for futility.
July 24, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Pfizer' sign at its La Jolla campus/iSto
Drug Development
Pfizer, Gilead, GSK to Capture Growing Infectious Diseases Market as J&J Pulls Back
The infectious diseases market is expected to reach $150 billion in sales by 2029, with three pharma giants reaping most of its benefits, according to data analytics and consultancy GlobalData.
July 24, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Doctor checking a patient's neck/iStock,
Drug Development
ADC Discontinues Zynlonta Trial in DLBCL After Seven Deaths
Following seven patient deaths in a Phase II study, ADC Therapeutics is discontinuing the development of its Zynlonta antibody-drug conjugate—combined with Rituxan—for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.
July 21, 2023
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Flu vaccine vials and syringe/iStock, vc
Drug Development
Vir’s GSK-Backed Flu Vaccine Candidate Fails Phase II Trial
Even at its highest dose, Vir Biotechnology’s investigational flu shot failed to significantly outperform placebo at preventing influenza A illness in a mid-stage study.
July 21, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: A close-up of the U.S. Capitol dome/iSto
Policy
Lawmakers Push for Medicare Coverage of Weight-Loss Drugs
Amid high rates of U.S. obesity, a bipartisan bill has been reintroduced in the Senate and House of Representatives with backing from Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk and Boehringer Ingelheim.
July 21, 2023
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: GSK's office in Poznan, Poland/iStock, W
Business
GSK Returns Shigella Vaccine Candidate to LimmaTech as Drug-Resistant Cases Rise
The company is handing back a multivalent Shigella vaccine candidate to LimmaTech Biologics, which spun out in 2015 after GSK’s acquisition of GlycoVaxyn for $190 million.
July 20, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: U.S. FTC building in Washington, DC/iSto
Policy
FTC, Amgen Break Off Settlement Talks Over Horizon Deal
The Federal Trade Commission and the company had been in settlement discussions, but those talks have ended as the agency’s antitrust lawsuit seeks to block the Horizon Therapeutics sale.
July 20, 2023
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Tristan Manalac
External view of the U.S. Capitol building
Policy
House Panel Presses FDA on Inspections of Indian, Chinese Plants Amid Drug Shortages
Republican lawmakers have called on the Food and Drug Administration to explain its foreign inspection programs for drug manufacturers in China and India as shortages continue in the U.S.
July 20, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Merck Research Laboratories headquarters in Silicon Valley
Drug Development
Phase III Data Show Keytruda’s Promise in Earlier-Stage Cervical Cancer
Late-stage study suggests Merck’s Keytruda is a promising treatment candidate in newly diagnosed patients with locally advanced cervical cancer, inducing better progression-free survival.
July 19, 2023
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: J&J's building in Switzerland
Doctors Without Borders Calls on J&J to Stop Enforcing Sirturo Extended Patents
With its primary patent expiring in India this week, MSF has urged Johnson & Johnson to drop all secondary protections and withdraw pending applications for the drug-resistant tuberculosis drug.
July 19, 2023
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: U.S. Capitol Building, Washington DC
Policy
House Judiciary Committee Probes Big Pharma’s Potential Role in COVID-19 Censorship
J&J, Merck and Pfizer are the subjects of a House Judiciary Committee investigation for their alleged participation in a government-sanctioned censorship campaign during the COVID-19 pandemic.
July 19, 2023
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Pfizer's signage at its world headquarters in New York
Business
Pfizer Inks Potential $7B Deal with Flagship to Deepen Pipeline
Tuesday’s partnership will dig into Flagship’s deep ecosystem of companies and technologies to discover medicines in line with Pfizer’s core strategic areas.
July 18, 2023
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Entrance to the U.S. Department of Healt
Policy
Medicare’s Proposed Coverage for Alzheimer’s Scan Could Be Boon for Eisai/Biogen
Following the full approval of Leqembi, the CMS suggests expanding its coverage of beta-amyloid PET scans, which could improve the uptake of novel Alzheimer’s disease treatments.
July 18, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
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