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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: Atopic dermatitis patient scratches thei
Drug Development
Sanofi’s $1.4B Bet Pays Off with Promising Phase II Eczema Data
Though the topline data were sparse, Sanofi’s potentially first-in-class candidate amlitelimab improved Eczema Area and Severity Index scores in patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis.
June 27, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Courtesy of Getty Images
Drug Development
Lilly’s Retatrutide Weight Loss Drug Scores in Mid-Stage Study
Patients treated in a Phase II study with Lilly’s retatrutide saw up to 24% weight loss at 48 weeks, driven by a triagonist mode of action that can bind and activate the GLP-1, GIP and glucagon receptors.
June 27, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Blue and white Pfizer sign on building/T
Pfizer Drops Early-Stage Obesity Drug Following Disappointing Phase I Data
The company is dropping its GLP-1 receptor agonist candidate lotiglipron after it induced elevations in liver enzymes in patients treated with the investigational drug.
June 26, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: A diabetes patient checking her blood su
Drug Development
Vertex Trial Data Show Two T1D Patients Reach Insulin Independence with Cell Therapy
A year after treatment, Vertex’s VX-880 has eliminated the need for insulin injections in two Type 1 diabetes patients in a Phase I/II clinical trial of its investigational stem cell-based therapy.
June 26, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Woman stepping onto scale/Courtesy Getty
Drug Development
Lilly’s GLP-1 Receptor Agonist Cuts Weight by Almost 15% in Mid-Stage Trial
New Phase II data, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, showed Lilly’s oral GLP-1 receptor agonist orforglipron induced nearly 15% weight loss in obese and overweight adults.
June 26, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Apogee CEO Michael Henderson/courtesy of
Deals
Apogee Files for IPO with Promising Preclinical Immuno Asset
Banking on its lead antibody APG777 for atopic dermatitis, Apogee Therapeutics is filing an initial public offering for an as-yet-undisclosed value.
June 23, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
FDA sign in front of its building in Maryland
Policy
Intercept Cuts All NASH Investments, One-Third of Staff After Second FDA Rejection
A day after the FDA denied Intercept’s application for its non-alcoholic steatohepatitis treatment, the pharma announced it has axed all NASH investments and one-third of its staff.
June 23, 2023
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3 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Federal Trade Commission Sign/Courtesy o
Policy
States Back FTC in Lawsuit Seeking to Block Amgen-Horizon Deal
Citing anti-trust issues, six states—California, Illinois, Minnesota, New York, Washington and Wisconsin—are joining the FTC’s legal challenge to Amgen’s nearly $27.8 billion buyout of Horizon.
June 23, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
FDA Headquarters_Grandbrothers/Adobe Stock
Drug Development
FDA Action Alert: Regeneron, BioMarin, Eton and Amneal
Regeneron envisions new dosing for Eylea’s label and it’s the moment of truth for BioMarin’s gene therapy for hemophilia A. For that and more, see inside.
June 23, 2023
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4 min read
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Tristan Manalac
FDA sign outside its office in Maryland
Policy
FY22 Drug Recalls Highest in Five Years: FDA Report
The FDA’s fiscal year 2022 report on the State of Pharmaceutical Quality also flagged a spike in inspections, non-compliant products and import alerts.
June 22, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: A dry eye/Kryuchka Yaroslav_Adobe Stock
Policy
FDA Rejects Aldeyra’s Eye Cancer Injection, Citing Lack of Well-Controlled Studies
With no well-controlled data to support its efficacy, the FDA rejected Aldeyra’s methotrexate injection for primary vitreoretinal lymphoma.
June 22, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: A researcher working to develop new drug
Business
Flagship-Backed Empress Therapeutics Launches to Accelerate Small Molecule Development
The startup launches with $50 million to improve its Chemilogics platform, which is designed to speed up the identification and development of small molecule drug candidates.
June 21, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: A diabetes patient checking her blood su
FDA
Lilly and Boehringer Drugs Approved as New Options for Type 2 Diabetes in Kids
The FDA has approved Jardiance and Synjardy as the first SGLT-2 inhibitors to treat pediatric Type 2 diabetes, providing a new class of oral medicines.
June 21, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
A Novo Nordisk flag flies in the wind/Courtesy jor
Policy
Novo Cracks Down on Counterfeit, Compounded Semaglutide Products
Following an FDA warning in May, Novo Nordisk has filed several lawsuits against spas, clinics and pharmacies selling compounded version of semaglutide.
June 21, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Courtesy of Michael Vi/Getty Images
Deals
Lilly Aims to Boost Immuno Business with $2.4B DICE Buy
Eli Lilly stands to gain access to DICE Therapeutics’ DELSCAPE platform, which enables the design of orally available molecules for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.
June 20, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
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