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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.

Kitty Yale and Tim Rolph_Akero Therapeutics
Drug Development
Akero’s NASH Candidate Clears Phase IIb, Cuts Liver Fat by up to 65%
Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis patients treated with the company’s efruxifermin saw significant improvements in liver fat and biomarkers of liver damage, fibrosis and cardiometabolic health.
June 5, 2023
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4 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Bristol Myers Squibb office in California
Drug Development
ASCO: BMS’ Opdivo Challenges Seagen’s Adcetris with Phase III Win
Data from a new head-to-head study showed BMS’ Opdivo induced better progression-free survival among Hodgkin’s lymphoma patients than Seagen’s Adcetris.
June 5, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Jonathan Weiss/Shutterstock
Drug Development
ASCO: AstraZeneca Posts Strong Survival Data for Tagrisso in NSCLC Patients
After five years of follow-up, AstraZeneca’s Tagrisso reduces the risk of death by 51% as compared with placebo in EGFR-mutated NSCLC patients, according to Phase III ADAURA trial results.
June 5, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Mark Cuban/Courtesy of Roy Rochlin/Getty
Business
Coherus to Offer 85% Discount for its Humira Biosimilar
The company’s Humira biosimilar Yusimry will launch in July with a $995 list price. Mark Cuban’s online pharmacy will sell it at a list price of $569.27 plus fees.
June 2, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Blue and white Pfizer sign on building/c
Drug Development
Pfizer’s Antibiotic Combo Clears Phase III, Shows Promise Against Multidrug Resistance
The company’s aztreonam-avibactam matched the cure rate of a meropenem-based regimen in patients with drug-resistant infections.
June 2, 2023
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3 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: FDA Action Alert logo/@Nicole Bean for B
Policy
FDA Action Alert: Merck, Sanofi/AstraZeneca and Eisai/Biogen
The FDA has three high-profile events this week, including one target action date and two advisory committee meetings—one to discuss potential traditional approval for Alzheimer’s drug Leqembi.
June 1, 2023
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3 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Jonathan Weiss/Shutterstock
FDA
AstraZeneca Wins FDA Nod in Prostate Cancer, Trims IBD Pipeline
The company added an indication to Lynparza’s label for the treatment of adults with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer, while cutting an antibody for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
June 1, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Syringe pulling vaccine from a vial / Ad
FDA
FDA Approves Pfizer’s RSV Vaccine for Older Adults
Abrysvo’s approval in adults aged 60 years and above comes ahead of an expected August decision in the pediatric setting.
June 1, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Sanofi Distribution Center
Drug Development
Sanofi Rebounds in MS with Mid-Stage Data for Anti-CD40L Antibody
Following a partial hold on another lead candidate last year, Sanofi is reinvigorating its MS pipeline with a Phase II win for its investigational anti-CD40L antibody frexalimab.
May 31, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Pills spilling out from a yellow contain
Drug Development
Glyscend’s First-in-Class Oral Diabetes Drug Shows Phase II Promise
The company’s oral gut-targeting polymer, GLY-200, demonstrated promising safety and efficacy in patients with Type 2 diabetes, assessing the candidate as an adjunct treatment to diet and exercise.
May 31, 2023
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3 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Front of FDA headquarters/Grandbrothers/
FDA
Lexicon Breaks Sotagliflozin Losing Streak with FDA Nod in Heart Failure
Following a series of stumbles in Type 1 diabetes, Lexicon’s dual SGLT inhibitor sotagliflozin finally won the FDA’s approval in heart failure and will be marketed as Inpefa.
May 30, 2023
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3 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Jonathan Weiss/Shutterstock
Drug Development
AstraZeneca Touts Positive Phase III Endometrial Cancer Data for Imfinzi, Lynparza
DUO-E trial data show AstraZeneca’s Imfinzi, either alone or in combination with Lynparza, boosts progression-free survival in endometrial cancer.
May 30, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Bristol Myers Squibb office in California
Drug Development
ASCO: BMS Builds Case to Push Reblozyl into Frontline for MDS
Bristol Myers Squibb’s Reblozyl induced nearly twice the red blood cell transfusion independence compared with the current standard treatment epoetin alfa for lower-risk myelodysplastic syndrome.
May 26, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Kirkland, Quebec, Canada - September 3, 2021: Merck Canada head office in Kirkland, Quebec, Canada. Merck is an American multinational pharmaceutical company.
Drug Development
ASCO: Merck Previews Keytruda’s Wins in Renal, Cervical Cancer
The company will present data at the oncology meeting showing the drug’s significant survival benefit in patients with advanced renal cancer and recurrent, persistent and metastatic cervical cancer.
May 26, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: scientist working on machine learning mo
Business
BenevolentAI Cuts Workforce, Pipeline in Strategic Realignment
The AI drug discovery company’s reorganization will include laying off around 180 employees and dropping its atopic dermatitis candidate BEN-2293 in an effort to save nearly $56 million.
May 25, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
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