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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: Photo of an argenx building/argenx
Drug Development
Argenx Raises $1.1B in Global Stock Offering Following Positive Phase II Data
The Netherlands-based immunology company said Wednesday it brought in $1.1 billion by selling more than two million shares in the U.S. and Europe.
July 18, 2023
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3 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Doctor points to a heart ultrasound/iSto
Drug Development
BridgeBio Stages ATTR-CM Comeback with Promising Phase III Data for Acoramidis
Following disappointing topline data, BridgeBio’s acoramidis has scored a late-stage win in transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy, leading to significant survival and quality of life benefits.
July 17, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: FTC sign above a doorway/iStock, Gromit7
Deals
FTC Digs Deeper into Pfizer’s $43B Buyout of Seagen
The Federal Trade Commission is asking for more information regarding Pfizer’s planned $43 billion acquisition of Seagen, according to the latter’s Securities and Exchange Commission filing on Friday.
July 17, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Illustration of a lymphoma cell/iStock,
Drug Development
Caribou Scores Early CAR-T Lymphoma Win, Plans $125M Public Offering
In a Phase I trial, Caribou’s allogeneic CAR-T cell therapy candidate induced high rates of treatment response in patients with relapsed or refractory B cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
July 14, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
FDA signage at its office in Maryland
Drug Development
FDA Action Alert: Verrica, Citius and Daiichi Sankyo
After beginning July with a splash in the Alzheimer’s space, the FDA is expected to make three decisions during the next two weeks; two for cancer and one for a viral skin disease.
July 13, 2023
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4 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Roche tower in Basel, Switzerland
Drug Development
Roche’s Ocrevus Subcutaneous Injection Matches IV Infusion in Phase III MS Trial
Data from the OCARINA II trial shows that a 10-minute subcutaneous injection of Ocrevus achieves similar pharmacokinetics as the typical hours-long intravenous infusion in multiple sclerosis patients.
July 13, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Merck Research Laboratories in South San Francisco, California
Policy
Merck Calls for Summary Judgment in IRA Drug Price Negotiation Case
Following its initial lawsuit last month, Merck has now requested that a federal judge rule on its Inflation Reduction Act case against the Biden administration without a trial.
July 13, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Illumina headquarters in California/iSto
Policy
EU Hits Illumina with Record $476M Fine for Unapproved Grail Deal
For closing its $8 billion acquisition of Grail without regulatory approval, the European Union has slapped Illumina with a record $476 million fine—the maximum sanction allowed under the EU’s rules.
July 12, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Facade of Takeda's office in Massachusetts
Policy
Takeda Withdraws Dengue Vaccine Application After FDA Request for More Data
Following the regulator’s request for more data beyond the scope of its Phase III TIDES trial, Takeda decided to voluntarily withdraw the Biologics License Application for its TAK-003 dengue vaccine.
July 12, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Incyte's logo on its building in Delaware
Drug Development
Incyte’s Opzelura Clears Phase III Trial in Pediatric Atopic Dermatitis
The company’s ruxolitinib cream Opzelura led to higher rates of treatment success in children with atopic dermatitis than with a control cream.
July 12, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Astellas' Americas headquarters in Illin
Business
Astellas Licenses 4DMT’s Vector Delivery Platform in Potential $962M Deal
Following its $5.9 billion Iveric Bio buy, Astellas is leaning into the eye disease space with a licensing agreement for 4D Molecular Therapeutics’ proprietary intravitreal AAV delivery system.
July 11, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Elderly man getting his eye checked/iSto
Drug Development
Viridian Poised to Challenge Horizon in Thyroid Eye Disease
Early-stage data shows that Viridian’s thyroid eye disease candidate induces clinically meaningful improvements in eye protrusion after six weeks of treatment.
July 11, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
FDA sign outside its office in Maryland
Policy
FDA Puts Clinical Hold on Hemogenyx’s CAR-T AML Therapy
The biotech Monday announced a clinical hold on its HEMO-CAR-T candidate, which is being trialed for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia, due to manufacturing concerns cited by the regulator.
July 10, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Boy in orange shirt on a wheelchair at t
Drug Development
BrainStorm Builds NurOwn’s Case in ALS with Biomarker Data
After its Biologics License Application was rejected by the FDA, BrainStorm’s Phase III data suggest its amyotrophic lateral sclerosis candidate significantly lowers neurofilament light chain levels.
July 10, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Canada's Biologics Manufacturing Center
Policy
Novavax Amends COVID-19 Contract with Canada, Snags $350M for Unused Shots
The biotech will supply Canada with fewer doses of its coronavirus vaccine while reaching a financial agreement for the forfeiting of certain doses previously scheduled for delivery.
July 10, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
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