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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.

concept - kidney tumor.
IgA nephropathy
Otsuka Sees ‘Impressive’ Proteinuria Reduction in Phase III IgAN Trial
Otsuka’s investigational antibody sibeprenlimab approximately halved levels of this key biomarker in patients with immunoglobulin A nephropathy.
June 6, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Regulatory
RFK Jr. Joins Deputies in Voicing Support for Regulatory Flexibility for Cell and Gene Therapies
In a roundtable event on Thursday, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said his office will work to eliminate barriers that keep cell and gene therapies from the market.
June 6, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Choosing the right path to follow. Decision making in business. Right decisions and way to success. Alternative options to take action.
ALS
Corcept Claims Survival Benefit in ALS Despite Missed Endpoint
Analysts at Truist Securities called the mid-stage data a “mixed bag,” also flagging gastrointestinal adverse events. However, the readout is unlikely to be “incremental” to Corcept’s overall stock narrative.
June 6, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Courtesy of Sarepta Therapeutics
Gene therapy
Sarepta Wins FDA’s Platform Technology Designation, Marking ‘Critical Shift’ in Gene Therapy Development
The Platform Technology Designation, which predates the current FDA leadership, is designed to streamline the drug development and review process, particularly for rare diseases.
June 5, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Government
Fired HHS Staff Sue RFK Jr., Musk, Claiming Terminations Were Based on ‘Error-Ridden’ Information
The lawsuit alleges that HHS leadership knew the records they used to guide their layoff decisions were inaccurate and contained errors.
June 5, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Halftone hands reaching for money. Mixed media catch falling coins and cash bills collage, financial success, free wealth and easy money concept vector illustration
Autoimmune disease
Cullinan Bets $700M+ in Back-Heavy China Deal for Autoimmune T Cell Engager
Genrix’s velinotamig complements Cullinan’s own pipeline, according to William Blair, which added that the deal will put Cullinan in a better position to target autoimmune diseases.
June 5, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
A scientist with pill bottles in front of FDA headquarters
Regulatory
FDA Action Alert: Merck, Moderna, Gilead, Regeneron/Sanofi and More
Arguably the most notable of the FDA’s upcoming decisions is that regarding Gilead’s twice-yearly HIV prophylaxis lenacapavir.
June 2, 2025
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6 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Astellas' headquarters for the Americas
Collaboration
Astellas Keeps Chinese Collab Train Chugging With $1.5B+ Bet for Claudin ADC
At the heart of the deal is an anti-Claudin18.2 antibody-drug conjugate being developed for solid tumors, including gastric cancer and pancreatic cancer.
May 30, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Businessman makes employee cuts as part of layoff
Layoffs
After Safety Stumbles, Keros Axes Pulmonary Hypertension Drug, 45% of Staff
Keros will be down to 85 full-time employees after the layoffs and expects to generate annualized savings of $17 million.
May 30, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Hanging questions.Blue background.
Government
Fake Citations Plague RFK Jr.’s MAHA Report
According to the nonprofit news outlet NOTUS, at least seven studies cited in the Make America Healthy Again report released last week are nonexistent. The White House shrugged off questions about the errors.
May 30, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Contemporary art collage of a hand holding scissors. Copy space for ad. Modern design.
Lung cancer
Merck, Daiichi Sankyo Pull Lung Cancer Filing for ADC, Citing Underwhelming Survival Findings
Patritumab deruxtecan was unable to significantly improve overall survival in patients with locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer with EGFR mutations.
May 29, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Business and financial crisis vector concept with businessman falling down the hole. Symbol of market crash, recession, risk, bankruptcy and loss. Eps10 illustration.
Company closure
iTeos To Close Down After TIGIT Fail
iTeos expects to absorb nearly $25 million in one-time costs for severance and termination payments. The biotech had 173 full-time employees at the end of 2024.
May 29, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Tariffs
Novo Opposes Pharma Tariffs, Urges Crackdown on Illicit Chinese Semaglutide
In a letter to the Department of Commerce, Novo Nordisk argued that unsanctioned compounded semaglutide, mostly from China, constitutes a national security threat to the U.S.
May 29, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Facade of Moderna's building in Massachusetts
Infectious disease
Moderna Loses $760M+ Government Bird Flu Contract as Vaccine Uncertainties Mount
The canceled contract comes as Moderna nears a critical FDA decision for its next-generation COVID-19 vaccine.
May 29, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Loss of one drug name. Ban on a drug or its shortage. Exclusion from the list of free drugs available under the medical social program.
Rare diseases
InflaRx Axes Rare Skin Disease Study on Disappointing Late-Stage Data
InflaRx’s vilobelimab met the bar for futility in a Phase III trial for the rare skin disease pyoderma gangrenosum.
May 28, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
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