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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: Gloved hand holding syringe in front of
Drug Development
Novavax Cuts 25% of Staff Amid Post-Pandemic Business Challenges
The layoffs come as the company posts nearly $300 million in net losses and just over $80 million in revenue during the first quarter of 2023.
May 9, 2023
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3 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Alexis Borisy and Melanie Nallicheri pos
Business
EQRx Cuts More Than Half of Headcount in Strategic Reset
The pharma company will lay off 170 employees and drop all candidates but one, as it seeks to rebuild its business.
May 9, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Man holding a cell phone in front of com
Business
Catalent Delays Earnings Call, Shaves $400M Off FY23 Guidance
The delay and guidance downgrade follow a spate of operational issues that have affected three of Catalent’s major manufacturing sites.
May 9, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Sign outside BioNTech's building in Germany
Business
BioNTech Looks to Expand into Other Markets as COVID-19 Revenues Dwindle
The German biotech is trying to deepen its pipeline in cancer and other infectious diseases as COVID-19 markets contract and the international public health emergency comes to an end.
May 8, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Regeneron logo on a light brown building
Business
Regeneron Diversifies Portfolio as Eylea Revenue Takes a Hit
As competition eats away at profits for the wet age-related macular degeneration drug, Regeneron is diversifying its portfolio and pumping more money into research and development.
May 5, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
FDA Action Alert logo/© Nicole Bean for BioSpace
Policy
FDA Action Alert: Sarepta, Protalix, Otsuka/Lundbeck and More
The FDA’s agenda includes an advisory committee meeting for Sarepta’s delandistrogene moxeparvovec, which, if approved, would become the first gene therapy for Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
May 5, 2023
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6 min read
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Tristan Manalac
A Novo Nordisk flag flies in the wind/Courtesy jor
Drug Development
Novo Nordisk’s Hemophilia Hopeful Hits FDA Roadblock, Company Cuts Wegovy Supply
During a first-quarter earnings call, Novo revealed its hemophilia candidate had been blocked by the FDA, and that the company is reducing the U.S. supply of lower doses of weight-loss drug Wegovy.
May 5, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Eli Lilly Campus in San Diego
Drug Development
Lilly’s Donanemab Data Energizes Alzheimer’s Sector, Safety Concerns Remain
While donanemab showed impressive results in Phase III TRAILBLAZER-ALZ 2, concerns regarding its safety remain compared with Biogen’s and Eisai’s Leqembi.
May 4, 2023
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3 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: ImmunoGen President and CEO Mark Enyedy/
Drug Development
ImmunoGen’s Elahere Aces Confirmatory Trial, Poised to Win Full Approval
Data from Phase III confirmatory MIRASOL trial show antibody-drug conjugate boosts survival in platinum-resistant ovarian cancer, setting the stage for full approval by the FDA.
May 4, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Photomicrograph of a Lendrum-stained kid
Drug Development
Travere’s Sparsentan Stumbles in Phase III Rare Kidney Disease Study
Despite the Phase III failure, Travere and partner CSL Vifor will explore potential regulatory paths for sparsentan as a treatment for focal segmental glomerulosclerosis.
May 3, 2023
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3 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Red and white Lilly sign on building/Mic
Drug Development
Lilly’s Donanemab Slows Cognitive, Functional Decline in Phase III Alzheimer’s Study
The amyloid plaque targeting therapy met primary endpoint and all secondary endpoints, which Lilly will use in its submission to the FDA this quarter.
May 3, 2023
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3 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Blue and white Pfizer sign on building/c
Business
Pfizer Cuts Mid-Stage Candidates Amid Declining Revenues
The company’s pipeline changes come as it weathered a nearly 30% decline in first-quarter revenues due to a slowdown in its COVID-19 business.
May 3, 2023
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3 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: J&J sign/Cristina Arias/Getty Images
J&J Makes $245M Play to Develop Next-Gen CAR-T Therapies
The partnership with Chinese biotech Cellular Biomedicine Group will cost J&J $245 million upfront and give it access to two differentiated CAR-T therapies for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.
May 2, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Sanofi sign/courtesy of AUFORTJérome_Ado
Sanofi Deepens Pompe Disease Focus with $150M Maze Partnership
For $150 million upfront, Sanofi will gain access to Maze’s lead asset MZE001, which inhibits the GYS1 protein in the rare genetic disorder.
May 2, 2023
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
FDA Headquarters_Grandbrothers/Adobe Stock
FDA
FDA Panel Supports Narrow Lynparza Label for Prostate Cancer
The Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee voted 11–1 supporting Merck’s and AstraZeneca’s PARP inhibitor for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer patients with BRCA mutations.
May 1, 2023
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3 min read
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Tristan Manalac
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