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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.

Illustration of employer’s hand holding employee who was laid off to drop him out of office
Layoffs
Sage Sacks Entire Staff After Supernus Buyout
As of Apr. 22, Sage had 338 full-time employees, all of whom will be laid off effective Aug. 22. The layoffs were announced a few weeks after Maryland’s Supernus Pharmaceuticals acquired Sage for up to $795 million.
June 30, 2025
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1 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Facade of the FDA's office in Maryland
Approvals
Moderna, Merck, UroGen, Score RSV and Cancer Nods in June
The FDA delivered two notable approvals for RSV immunization, UroGen overcame a negative advisory committee vote to secure an approval in bladder cancer, and more key regulatory nods from the past month.
June 30, 2025
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9 min read
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Tristan Manalac
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Neurodegenerative disease
Edgewise Takes a Hit as FDA Blocks Accelerated Path for Becker Muscular Dystrophy Drug
The FDA found that data from a single Phase II study were “insufficient” to justify an accelerated approval review for sevasemten in Becker muscular dystrophy.
June 27, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
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MASH
Altimmune Nosedives on Mixed Mid-Stage MASH Data for GLP-1/Glucagon Drug
Altimmune’s pemvidutide failed to significantly improve fibrosis in MASH patients in a Phase IIb study. The biotech crashed 53% in the aftermath of the readout.
June 27, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
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Collaboration
Alphabet Subsidiary Calico Colors In Up To $570M+ Aging Deal With China’s Mabwell
Calico will leverage 9MW3811’s anti-inflammatory mechanism to advance its mission of addressing aging-related diseases.
June 27, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Profile view, and Mental Illness
Depression
Alto Digs Into Exploratory Outcomes as Depression Drug Misses Phase II Endpoint
While ALTO-203 missed its depression-related endpoints, improvements in EEG biomarkers, attention and wakefulness point to signals of drug activity, William Blair said, though the analysts pointed to other indications as potentially more promising for future development.
June 27, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Government
Trump’s CDC Pick Says Vaccines Are Safe, Promises To Keep Them Available
Susan Monarez, already acting director of the CDC, said during her confirmation hearing that she sees no causal link between vaccines and autism.
June 26, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
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Cardiovascular disease
Novartis Makes Potential $750M+ Bet Per Cardiovascular Disease Target in Another Flagship Pact
Flagship Pioneering’s ProFound Therapeutics will use its proprietary technology to mine the expanded proteome for novel cardiovascular therapeutics. Novartis has promised to pay up to $750 million per target, though it has not specified how many targets it will go after.
June 26, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. makes remarks at an event announcing the MAHA (Make America Healthy Again) Commission, Thursday, May 22, 2025, in the East Room of the White House. (Official White House Photo by Joyce N. Boghosian)
Vaccines
RFK Cuts U.S. Funding From Vaccine Alliance Gavi, Claims Group ‘Ignored the Science’
Without providing further context, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. says that Gavi needs to “start taking vaccine safety seriously” by considering “the best science available.”
June 26, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
FDA Headquarters_Grandbrothers/Adobe Stock
Policy
Former CBER Chief Marks Decries New FDA COVID-19 Framework
Peter Marks, who headed the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research before being forced to resign in March, said the agency’s new risk-based COVID-19 vaccine framework contradicts the current administration’s push for transparency and gold-standard science.
June 26, 2025
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3 min read
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Tristan Manalac
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Collaboration
Sanofi, Gilead Deepen Protein Degrader Pipelines in Separate Deals With Kymera
Gilead is betting up to $750 million on Kymera’s anti-CDK2 molecular glue for solid tumors, while Sanofi elected to move forward with another protein degrader from the biotech, designed to target immune-mediated diseases.
June 25, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Finding Talent. Big Hands with Magnifying Glass Recruiting People. vector
Duchenne muscular dystrophy
FDA Reviews Sarepta’s Elevidys After Second Patient Death
The FDA is assessing the need for “further regulatory action” on Sarepta’s Duchenne muscular dystrophy gene therapy in the aftermath of two patient deaths, though the regulator has not yet specified what action this could be.
June 25, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Washington, D.C., USA- January 13, 2020: FDA Sign at its headquarters in Washington DC. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or USFDA) is a federal agency of the USA.
FDA
FDA Names Psychedelic Proponent as CDER Deputy Director, Top Spot Remains Open
Mike Davis previously worked as clinical team leader at the FDA’s Division of Psychiatry before serving as chief medical officer for Usona Institute, a research organization advancing psychedelic science.
June 25, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
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Immunology and inflammation
Nektar Declares Phase IIb Eczema Win for Rezpeg—But Analysts Unconvinced
Despite Nektar’s share price shooting up as much as 175% on Tuesday, William Blair maintained that “there is an absence of clear differentiation” for rezpegaldesleukin in the atopic dermatitis space.
June 25, 2025
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3 min read
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Tristan Manalac
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Gene therapy
Sangamo’s ‘Positive’ Phase I/II Data for Fabry Gene Therapy Opens Path to FDA
Isaralgagene civaparvovec is a “potential best-in-class gene therapy for Fabry disease,” according to analysts at H.C. Wainwright. Sangamo plans to use pivotal Phase I/II data to build an accelerated approval case for the asset.
June 24, 2025
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3 min read
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Tristan Manalac
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