SUBSCRIBE
SUBSCRIBE
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.

Intestine 3d symbol in paper cut style. Small and large intestine, digestive tract design. Organ anatomy craft illustration. Cut out of paper banner.
Inflammatory bowel disease
Equillium’s Itolizumab Goes Toe-to-Toe With Humira in Ulcerative Colitis
In a mid-stage study, the candidate itolizumab achieved 23.3% clinical remission rate at 12 weeks, numerically better than Humira’s 20% at the same time point.
February 7, 2025
 · 
2 min read
 · 
Tristan Manalac
Tension, separation, danger or risk concepts. Frayed rope is about to brake on blue background with copy space.
Legal
Regeneron Sues Sanofi, Alleging Stonewalling in Dupixent Pact
According to the lawsuit, Sanofi has failed to provide partner Regeneron adequate information regarding the sales of Dupixent—including agreements with payers and pharmacy benefit managers that determine pricing and rebates for the drug.
February 7, 2025
 · 
2 min read
 · 
Tristan Manalac
3d render, open blue door isolated on blue background, yellow light going through the slot. Architectural design element. Modern minimal concept. Opportunity metaphor.
Business
Viracta Winds Down Business, Unable to Weather Financial Troubles
Viracta’s closure comes on the heels of its delisting from Nasdaq last month and multiple rounds of layoffs last year.
February 6, 2025
 · 
2 min read
 · 
Tristan Manalac
Facade of AstraZeneca's office in Shanghai, China
Earnings
AstraZeneca Axes Two Alexion Assets as Q4 Earnings Exceed Expectations
Despite the discontinuations, CEO Pascal Soriot said AstraZeneca’s December 2020 acquisition of Alexion was a “fantastic” deal for the pharma.
February 6, 2025
 · 
3 min read
 · 
Tristan Manalac
Businessman pulling rope trying to lift up falling graph.
Cancer
Kura Eyes FDA Filing After Pivotal AML Win, but Investors Aren’t Impressed
Kuro Oncology and partner Kyowa Kirin are on track for an NDA submission for ziftomenib in the second quarter of this year.
February 6, 2025
 · 
2 min read
 · 
Tristan Manalac
Dollar banknote cut into pieces on a yellow background
Business
Valerio Shutters U.S. Operations, Cuts Clinical Work Due to ‘Financing Challenges’
Valerio only has cash to last three months, according to the DNA decoy specialist. The news comes less than six months after the company acquired Emglev Therapeutics to advance antibodies for autoimmune and inflammatory conditions, as well as cancers.
February 5, 2025
 · 
2 min read
 · 
Tristan Manalac
Concept of money prize. Vector illustration. Halftone hand holds bouquet of money flowers. Gift prize, donation, earnings, bonus or cashback concept. Retro poster or banner. Creative trend collage.
Parkinson’s disease
Supernus Taps Potential $300M US Opportunity With FDA Win for Parkinson’s Drug-Device Combo
Before garnering approval on Tuesday, Onapgo had been rejected twice by the FDA.
February 5, 2025
 · 
2 min read
 · 
Tristan Manalac
Pictured: GSK laboratories in Dresden, Germany
Earnings
GSK Looks to Deal in Cancer, Respiratory, Inflammation in 2025
Despite significant dips in its vaccines sales, the British pharma narrowly beat consensus estimates for Q4 2024 and raised 2031 sales projections to just over $50 billion.
February 5, 2025
 · 
2 min read
 · 
Tristan Manalac
Amgen sign at its headquarters in Thousand Oaks, California, USA.
Earnings
Pipeline Problems Mar Amgen’s Q4 Beat
Amgen outperformed expectations in the fourth quarter of 2024, but revealed an FDA hold on early-stage obesity asset AMG 513 and the discontinuation of other programs.
February 5, 2025
 · 
3 min read
 · 
Tristan Manalac
Illustration of two hands shaking while another hand gently grips a wrist
Collaboration
The Top 7 Biopharma Licensing Deals of 2024
Faced with the encroaching threats of patent expirations and generics, biopharma companies in 2024 invested 33% more in licensing deals, on average, than in 2023 with an eye toward enriching their pipelines with novel and potentially more effective therapies.
February 5, 2025
 · 
8 min read
 · 
Tristan Manalac
South side and Dome of the US Capitol in Washington DC, United States
Government
RFK Jr. Passes First Hurdle as Nomination Moves to Full Senate Vote
Senator Bill Cassidy voted with fellow Republicans on the Senate Finance Committee Tuesday morning to move forward the nomination of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. for HHS secretary.
February 4, 2025
 · 
3 min read
 · 
Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Regeneron logo on a light brown building
Earnings
Regeneron Misses on Eylea, Dupixent Sales; Issues First-Ever Dividends
Despite lackluster sales of Eylea’s high-dose formulation and Sanofi-partnered Dupixent, Regeneron beat Q4 forecasts overall thanks in part to cancer therapy Libtayo and gave shareholders a cut of the profits for the first time in the company’s long history.
February 4, 2025
 · 
2 min read
 · 
Tristan Manalac
Weigh scales on pink background, top view with space for text. Overweight concept
Obesity
UK Pharmacies Regulator Wants Tighter Checks on Weight Loss Injections
Amid growing concern of the overuse and misuse of obesity drugs, the UK’s pharmacies regulator rolled out stricter guidelines for online pharmacies selling medicines including Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy and Eli Lilly’s Mounjaro.
February 4, 2025
 · 
2 min read
 · 
Tristan Manalac
Sign in front of Pfizer in Quebec, Canada
Cancer
Pfizer Sees Path to Braftovi’s Full Approval With Phase III CRC Data
Topline data on a combo including Pfizer’s kinase inhibitor Braftovi point to improved progression-free survival and pave the way for its full approval for the treatment of certain colorectal cancers, according to the company.
February 3, 2025
 · 
2 min read
 · 
Tristan Manalac
Government
Trump’s Tariffs Threaten Big Pharma With Higher Costs and Slimmer Margins
J&J, AstraZeneca, Novo Nordisk and Roche are among the companies that might take a hit from the soon-to-be-enacted fees, according to analysts.
February 3, 2025
 · 
3 min read
 · 
Tristan Manalac
Load More