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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: A brain surrounded by falling pills
Neuroscience
Novartis, BioArctic Partner To Penetrate the Blood-Brain Barrier
Novartis has bet up to $772 million to gain access to BioArctic’s BrainTransporter platform, which was leveraged in a partnership with Eisai to produce Leqembi.
August 27, 2025
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1 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Contemporary art collage of target and hands with the megaphone on a ue background with copy space. Concept of reaching a goal and spreading.
Rare diseases
Regeneron Eyes 2026 Filing for siRNA Myasthenia Gravis Drug After Phase III Win
Regeneron’s cemdisiran, used alone or in combination with its complement inhibitor Veopoz, significantly improved activities of daily living in patients with generalized myasthenia gravis.  
August 27, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Pfizer's signage outside its office in Canada/iStock, JHVEPhoto
Layoffs
Pfizer Cuts 100 From Former Seagen HQ Amid ‘Digital Enablement and Automation’ Push
The layoffs will affect employees at Pfizer’s Bothell, Washington site, which previously served as the headquarters for Seagen before being acquired by the pharma for $43 billion.
August 27, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Indianapolis, U.S. - April 16, 2016: Eli Lilly and Company World Headquarters. Lilly makes Medicines and Pharmaceuticals VII
Obesity
Lilly Plots Path to FDA After Second Phase III Readout for Orforglipron
While Truist Securities analysts said the results from the ATTAIN-2 trial leave “room for competition,” they also pointed to a manufacturing advantage that could unlock a “double-digit billion dollar opportunity” for Eli Lilly.
August 26, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: CDC signage at its headquarters in Georg
COVID-19
CDC Names Vaccine Critic Retsef Levi as Head of COVID-19 Workgroup
The MIT professor of management, who already sits on the CDC’s revamped immunization advisory committee, is a known skeptic of vaccines, particularly mRNA technology.
August 26, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Creative picture image collage banner of guy worker jump from financial charts determined company success.
Rare diseases
Argenx Eyes ‘Broadest Label’ for Vyvgart in Myasthenia Gravis After Positive Phase III Data
Based on new data, argenx expects to file for the expansion of Vyvgart’s label into patients with generalized myasthenia gravis who are negative for antibodies against the AChR marker—an indication William Blair analysts called the broadest option in this disease space.
August 26, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Close-Up Of Syringe With Bottles Against Blue Background
Vaccines
Trump, Kennedy Could Ban COVID-19 Vaccine ‘Within Months’: Report
The White House has denied reports that the government could soon ban COVID-19 vaccines, noting that in the absence of an official announcement, “any discussion about HHS policy should be dismissed as baseless speculation.”
August 26, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Concept art for large layoffs showing a line of blocks a cliff
Layoffs
Appia, Former Kite Cell Therapy Collaborator, Shuts Down
Appia Bio’s shutdown continues an unfortunate trend this year that has seen biotech closures nearly every month.
August 26, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
3D. The Red rocket that soars high and different than other rockets. Startup business successful concept.
Startups
Arnatar Debuts With $52M To Advance RNA Therapies That Go Beyond Silencing
Arnatar is developing ART4, an antisense oligonucleotide that ups the expression of its target protein to treat a rare disease called Alagille syndrome.
August 25, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Entrance to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in Washington, DC
Government
HHS Will No Longer Recognize Employee Unions
Thousands of employees across the Department of Health and Human Services are set to lose their collective bargaining rights in a move that American Federation of Government Employees national president Everett Kelley called “illegal and immoral.”
August 25, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Creative collage human 3d hands body fragments needle injection gloves medical healthcare hospital virus prevention drawing background.
Vaccines
FDA Pulls Valneva’s Chikungunya Shot From Market Citing ‘Serious Safety Concerns’
Earlier this month, the FDA backed off on a pause in shipments of the chikungunya vaccine Ixchiq to older adults. Now, the regulator has reversed course.
August 25, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Magnifying glass and various business graphs on light blue background
Regulatory
FDA To Publish Drug-Related Adverse Event Reports Daily
The FDA Adverse Event Reporting System, which Commissioner Marty Makary called “clunky,” previously published updates on a quarterly basis.
August 25, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Miles of lava rocks and hardened lava flow on the Big Island of Hawaii after a recent volcanic eruption
Obesity
Weight-Loss Wasteland: 5 Obesity Assets That Failed
The mad rush for safe and effective obesity drugs has winners—including Eli Lilly’s Zepbound and Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy—and losers. Here are five molecules that never made it to the market.
August 25, 2025
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9 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Minimal Clip Art Collage. Pop Vector Design Composition with bright bold geometric shapes, halftone objects for ad, animation etc
Approvals
Ionis Wins Approval For First RNA-Targeted Prophylactic for Rare Swelling Disease
The drug, for hereditary angioedema, is Ionis’ second wholly owned asset.
August 22, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Contemporary art collage. Human hand holding megaphones and spreading fake news. Concept of information, creativity, social issues, rumors. Copy space for ad
Regulatory
After Court Win, Vanda Asks Makary To Review ‘Unacceptable’ Approval of Rival Generics
Vanda claims that two generics to its sleep disorder drug Hetlioz were approved despite inadequate data and is requesting that FDA Commissioner Marty Makary revisit the decision.
August 22, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
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