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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.

National Institutes of Health (NIH) building
Government
Court Orders Restoration of Canceled NIH Grants, Calls Cuts ‘Appalling’
District Judge William Young, a nominee of Republican President Ronald Reagan, blasted the Trump administration’s NIH cuts as discriminatory and “bearing down on people of color because of their color.”
June 17, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
iStock, Yutthana Gaetgeaw
CDC
CDC Scientist Resigns in Protest as Kennedy Reshapes Vaccine Regulation
HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s actions in recent months have raised concerns that he is taking a heavy-handed and unilateral approach to vaccine policy in the U.S.
June 17, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Working man icon pushing the load on the line. Hard work, labor, effort and determination concept.
Parkinson’s disease
Roche, Prothena Push Parkinson’s Drug to Phase III Despite Mid-Stage Fail
Analysts at Jefferies give Roche and Prothena’s Phase III study just a 25% to 40% probability of success.
June 16, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Digital collage modern art. Hands reaching together and shaking, with loading icon
Mergers & acquisitions
Regeneron Backs Off 23andMe, Losing Bid to Former CEO
Regeneron did not bid higher on the genetic testing company because of “its assessment of 23andMe’s remaining value,” according to a spokesperson for the pharma.
June 16, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Oct 9, 2019 Milpitas / CA / USA - Johnson & Johnson Vision offices in Silicon Valley; Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc. is part of the American multinational corporation Johnson&Johnson
Cell therapy
J&J’s Dual-Targeting CAR T Hits 80% Complete Response in Early Lymphoma Study
Analysts at Truist Securities called J&J’s CAR T readout “compelling,” noting that the efficacy figures could position the cell therapy as a formidable competitor to the current standard of care, Gilead’s Yescarta.
June 16, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Government
Makary Considers More Cuts at FDA Amid Continued Delays
According to an internal email, the agency may be in for more consolidation in areas including human resources, communications, travel and acquisitions.
June 16, 2025
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1 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Biotechnology and molecular genetic engineering. 3D illustration of science and molecular technology.
Duchenne muscular dystrophy
UPDATE: Second Patient Dies After Receiving Sarepta’s DMD Gene Therapy Elevidys
Sarepta’s shares crashed 41% in premarket trading Monday morning to $21.01 after the biotech reported a second death from acute liver failure, a known side effect of adeno-associated virus-based gene therapies.
June 16, 2025
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3 min read
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Tristan Manalac
AI robot with cancer cells and virus. 3d illustration
Artificial intelligence
As AI Dawns in Precision Oncology, 2025 Expected To Be a ‘Turning Point’
AstraZeneca, Pfizer and more are leveraging the computational power of AI to better design trials, predict the potential efficacy and safety profiles of their molecules and synthesize massive multi-omic information to gain a more complete understanding of challenging cancers.
June 16, 2025
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9 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Cambridge, USA - 16 August 2024. View of Moderna office entrance with logo sign, Biotechnology industry
RSV
Moderna Wins Expanded Label for mRNA RSV Shot as New ACIP Members Question mRNA Technology
Later this month, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s revamped CDC vaccine advisory committee will discuss RSV vaccination guidelines for the newly approved patient group, high-risk adults 18 through 49. Analysts and other experts have warned that the new panel includes some who have documented anti-vaccine sentiments as well as those who have spoken out against mRNA technology specifically.
June 13, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Facade of AstraZeneca's office in Shanghai, China
Artificial intelligence
AstraZeneca Makes $5.3B AI Bet With China’s CSPC for Chronic Disease Pills
Friday’s deal with CSPC fits neatly within AstraZeneca’s business development strategy of upping investments in AI and in China.
June 13, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Headshots of two men wearing suits
Vaccines
Two of Kennedy’s New ACIP Picks Were Paid Expert Witnesses in Merck Vaccine Cases
Martin Kulldorff and Robert Malone, both outspoken vaccine skeptics, have received compensation for their expert participation in various vaccine-related cases against Merck.
June 13, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Minimal Clip Art Collage. Pop Vector Design Composition with bright bold geometric shapes, halftone objects for ad, animation etc
Bladder cancer
UroGen’s Bladder Cancer Drug Wins FDA Approval Over Adcomm’s Objections
The FDA’s Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee narrowly voted against the approval of Zusduri, citing the lack of a completely randomized study to back up the application.
June 13, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Big fish eats small, takeover of the company. Art collage.
Mergers & acquisitions
BioNTech Swallows Vaccine Rival CureVac in $1.25B All-Stock Acquisition
BioNTech will get CureVac’s early-stage cancer assets, including its mRNA-based glioblastoma therapy currently in Phase I development. CureVac had previously sued BioNTech for copyright infringement related to mRNA vaccine technology.
June 12, 2025
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3 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Isolated hand photo on yellow background. Pink hand collage style. Bright pop art template with space for text. Creative minimalistic backdrop.
Lung cancer
Nuvation Scores First FDA Nod With Oral Lung Cancer Drug
Nuvation Bio’s first approved product is Ibtrozi, a CNS-active ROS1 inhibitor that in pivotal studies showed high rates of treatment response in patients with non-small cell lung cancer.
June 12, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Front view of the CDC museum in Georgia
Government
Amid ACIP Shake-Up, CDC Reinstates Hundreds of Fired Employees
The rehired staff, who number around 460, work with the CDC’s viral disease prevention efforts and sexual health testing labs, among others. The reinstatements are a ray of light in an acrimonious week that also saw protests and the complete overhaul of the agency’s vaccine advisory committee.
June 12, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
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