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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.

Shot of a young woman getting her eye’s examined with a slit lamp
Deals
Viatris Acquires Oyster Point, Gains Access to Ophthalmic Pipeline
Eye specialist Oyster Point Pharma announced is being acquired by Viatris Inc. after Oyster’s board of directors unanimously signed off on the deal, Oyster Point announced Monday.
November 7, 2022
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Courtesy of Cristina Arias/Getty Images
Drug Development
Boehringer Ingelheim and Lilly’s Jardiance Scores in Late-Stage CKD Trial
Eli Lilly’s and Boehringer’s Jardiance met its primary outcome in the Phase III EMPA-KIDNEY study, the largest and broadest SGLT2 inhibitor trial in chronic kidney disease.
November 7, 2022
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3 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Drug Development
PDUFA for Apellis’ Geographic Atrophy NDA Delayed by Three Months
Apellis is submitting additional 24-month efficacy data to supplement the NDA for its intravitreal candidate pegcetacoplan for GA secondary to AMD.
November 4, 2022
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Tristan Manalac
Drug Development
Emalex Closes $250M Series D to Fund Phase III Trial in Tourette Syndrome
Emalex Biosciences closed a Series D funding round Thursday counting $250 million in earnings, much of which will bankroll a Phase III trial of ecopipam for Tourette syndrome.
November 3, 2022
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Asian woman holding cardboard box containing personal belongings after being fired by employer
Business
Surface Oncology Pauses CD39 Program, Slashes Workforce by 20%
Surface Oncology announced it is pausing the development of its CD39-targeted antibody SRF617 and cutting around 20% of its workforce to focus on its lead anti-IL-27 program SRF388.
November 2, 2022
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Mike Kemp/In PIctures via Getty Images
Business
J.P. Morgan Launches Life Sciences Fund to Support Early-Stage Biotech
J.P. Morgan launched its new life science-focused private equity team, Life Sciences Private Capital, to support early- and growth stage biotech companies.
November 2, 2022
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Business
J&J Expands Cardiovascular Business with $16.6B Abiomed Acquisition
Johnson & Johnson announced it was acquiring all outstanding shares of Abiomed for $16.6 billion to expand Abiomed’s cardiovascular technologies and increase patient access.
November 1, 2022
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Michael Vi/Shutterstock
Drug Development
FDA Keeps Jazz’s SCLC Treatment on the Market Despite Failed Confirmatory Trial
The FDA has upheld the accelerated approval of Jazz Pharmaceuticals’ Zepzelca (lurbinectedin), even though the drug failed to reach its primary endpoint in the confirmatory Phase III ATLANTIS trial.
October 27, 2022
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3 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Business
Candel Pairs HSV Vectors with Carl June’s CAR-T Cells in Solid Tumor Pact (Updated)
Candel revealed a collaboration with the University of Pennsylvania to assess the combination of Candel’s viral immunotherapy and UPenn’s CAR-T cell treatments in solid tumor models.
October 27, 2022
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Tristan Manalac
Courtesy of Michael Vi/Getty Images
Drug Development
J&J Maintains Momentum in Multiple Myeloma with Tecvayli Approval
The FDA has greenlit the use of Johnson & Johnson’s Tecvayli in heavily pretreated adult patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma.
October 26, 2022
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Tristan Manalac
Drug Development
Early Data Indicate Gritstone’s Self-Amplifying mRNA Vaccine could Fill COVID-19 Gaps - Updated
Data from two Phase I trials indicate Gritstone Bio’s samRNA vaccine can safely induce a strong and durable immune response against COVID-19.
October 25, 2022
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3 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Courtesy of inside-studio/Getty Images
Drug Development
Rare Liver Disease Wins Mount as Mirum’s PFIC Trial Meets Endpoint - Updated
Mirum Pharmaceuticals announced that Livmarli oral solution met its primary endpoint in the Phase III MARCH study in young patients with progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis.
October 25, 2022
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3 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Drug Development
Tricida Stocks Plummet Following Trial Failure in Kidney Disease
Top-line data from Tricida’s VALOR-CKD trial showed veverimer failed to meet its primary endpoint and does not slow progression in patients with metabolic acidosis and CKD.
October 24, 2022
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Tristan Manalac
Drug Development
Scholar Rock Continues to Build Case for SMA Drug with New Data (Updated)
New data from Scholar Rock’s Phase II TOPAZ trial showed its investigational antibody apitegromab improves quality of life in types 2 and 3 spinal muscular atrophy patients.
October 24, 2022
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3 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Sarah Silbiger/Getty Images
FDA
FDA Releases Much-Anticipated Guidance around Trial Endpoints
The FDA released guidelines Thursday in an attempt to clarify processes for assessing a drug candidate’s efficacy while examining several endpoints, simultaneously.
October 21, 2022
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
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