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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.

Business and financial crisis vector concept with businessman falling down the hole. Symbol of market crash, recession, risk, bankruptcy and loss. Eps10 illustration.
Schizophrenia
Atai-Partnered Schizophrenia Drug Flunks Mid-Stage Trial
Despite the failure of its Recognify-partnered inidascamine, Jefferies analysts do not expect a definitively negative stock impact on atai, given the company’s promising psychedelic pipeline.
July 28, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Mental health and problems with memory. Hands unraveling tangled red threads on head silhouette representing brain. Modern art collage.
Alzheimer’s disease
5 Alzheimer’s Readouts To Watch
These five upcoming data drops could usher in more effective and convenient therapies for Alzheimer’s disease and open up novel pathways of action to treat the memory-robbing illness.
July 28, 2025
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8 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Poster sketch image artwork photo collage of body language finger showing gesture symbol thumb down dislike dissatisfied minus no opinion.
Regulatory
Sarepta Fallout Continues With EU’s Negative Opinion of Elevidys in Ambulatory Patients
The European Union’s health regulatory agency did not endorse approving Elevidys for ambulatory patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
July 25, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Concept art for large layoffs showing a line of blocks a cliff
Layoffs
Rocket Trims Headcount and Pipeline Focus Amid Clinical, Regulatory Turbulence
The strategic reprioritization comes after the company hit two major hurdles in the past year, including a clinical hold for an investigational gene therapy and an FDA rejection for its lead asset.
July 25, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Problems and Challenges. Businessman stands on question mark
Gene therapy
Sarepta’s Future Increasingly Uncertain as FDA Eyes New Study for Elevidys
CBER is unanimously against Elevdiys’ return to the market without additional evidence, according to media reports citing an anonymous senior FDA official. Given Elevidys’ full approval, however, experts told BioSpace this path would set up a length legal battle between the regulator and Sarepta Therapeutics.
July 25, 2025
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4 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Art collage, hands holding binoculars on pink background with copy space. The concept of looking at the future.
Earnings
Q2 2025: Biotechs To Watch For This Earnings Season
Second-quarter earnings come amid many high-level challenges for the biopharma industry. How will these five closely watched biotechs fare?
July 24, 2025
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10 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Chalk drawing arrow turn or break through road block traffic pylon on dark blackboard using as obstacle, solution for business problem or break through to success concept.
Antibody-drug conjugate (ADC)
GSK’s Comeback for Blenrep on Pause as FDA Delays Decision
The new target action date for Blenrep, which GSK is proposing for the second-line treatment of relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma, is Oct. 23.
July 24, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Illustration of employer’s hand holding employee who was laid off to drop him out of office
Layoffs
Genentech Downsizes by 87 as Priorities Shift
The latest round of terminations, which will take effect Sept. 15, comes after Genentech fired more than 500 employees in the last 15 months.
July 24, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Accumulated problems, contradictions. Dead end, we need to go back. You cannot continue further. Complete impossibility to continue. Rejection of an idea. Hard sanctions. Fatal error.
Obesity
Roche Drops Early Obesity Asset, Citing Lack of Competitiveness
Roche obtained CT-173, a PYY mimetic, in its $2.7 billion acquisition of Carmot Therapeutics in December 2023. The company reported the change in its second quarter earnings call.
July 24, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Fashionable halftones collage. Startup business concept,fast business startup. Trendy modern retro illustration in bright trendy colors. Strategic planning concept and business success. Vector illustration
Startups
Dispatch Bio Launches With $216M To Develop Universal CAR T Therapy for Solid Tumors
Dispatch seeks to address two main challenges of immunotherapies in solid tumors: the lack of a target and the immunosuppressive tumor environment.
July 23, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
FDA signage at its headquarters in Maryland
Regulatory
FDA Opens Pilot Run of Commissioner Voucher Program
The FDA will select at most five companies that align with national priorities, including lower drug prices and increased domestic investment.
July 23, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Boxes and prohibition symbol NO. Trade wars. A ban on the import of goods. Impossibility of transportation, oversupply. Shortage of goods. Sanctions and embargoes. Confiscation of contraband.
Duchenne muscular dystrophy
Following Sarepta’s Lead, Roche Suspends Elevidys Shipments to Some Ex-US Countries
The voluntary pauses follow two patient deaths associated with the Duchenne muscular dystrophy gene therapy.
July 23, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
ASD autism neurodevelopmental spectrum disorder, deficits in social communication and interaction, brain with impairment, hypersensitivity and abnormalities
GLP-1
GLP-1s Could Protect Against Neurodegeneration, Study Finds
A retrospective cohort study found that semaglutide and tirzepatide are linked with significantly lower risks of dementia and stroke, hinting at potential neuroprotective effects of GLP-1 therapies.
July 23, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Close-Up Of Syringe With Bottles Against Blue Background
Mergers & acquisitions
Sanofi Makes $1.6B Vaccine Bet With Vicebio Acquisition
The acquisition, which will give Sanofi a combination vaccine for respiratory syncytial virus and human metapneumovirus, follows the pharma’s potential $1.4 billion COVID vaccine licensing deal with Novavax last year, plus a number of other big-ticket commitments outside of the vaccine space.
July 22, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: AstraZeneca's manufacturing facility in Sweden
Manufacturing
With Potential Tariffs Weeks Away, AstraZeneca Makes $50B U.S. Manufacturing Push
The money will focus on a manufacturing plant in Virginia that will make the company’s weight management and metabolic drugs like the hypertension drug baxdrostat and oral GLP-1 therapies.
July 22, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
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