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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.

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Regulatory
Hims & Hers’ Woes Compound as FDA Hits Company With Warning Letter
The agency flagged several violations at a compounding pharmacy owned by Hims & Hers, including “infestation by rodents, birds insects, and other vermin.”
February 10, 2026
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Businessman holding a dart aiming at the target - business targeting, aiming, focus concept. Art collage.
Obesity
Kailera, Hengrui Push Oral GLP-1/GIP Pill to Phase 3 After Clearing Mid-Stage China Study
Kailera will launch a global Phase 2 study of ribupatide this year, while Hengrui will push the asset into Phase 3 in China.
February 10, 2026
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1 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Stagflation, economic slow down or recession while inflation high up, GDP growth decrease causing by unemployment concept, fearful businessman riding fall down economic graph with inflation high up.
Complete response letters
REGENXBIO’s Hunter Syndrome Gene Therapy Fails to Win FDA Nod
The FDA recommended that REGENXBIO run a new study, treat more patients and include a placebo arm to support a resubmission for the gene therapy RGX-121.
February 10, 2026
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Focus on the path, Businessman running on his own track
Earnings
AstraZeneca Teases ‘Very Competitive’ Weight-Loss Pill—But Stays Mum on Details
AstraZeneca will push the pill, elecoglipron, into a comprehensive late-stage program that will test the drug as a monotherapy, as part of a combination regimen and for several indications.
February 10, 2026
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Legal and law concept illustration stock illustration
GLP-1
Novo Sues Hims & Hers Over Compounded Version of Oral Wegovy Pill
Novo Nordisk has sued Hims for allegedly violating patents protecting semaglutide, seeking potentially “hundreds of millions” in damages, John Kuckelman, the pharma’s general counsel, said. The wellness platform pulled its version of the drug just days after launching it.
February 9, 2026
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
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Gene therapy
Liver Toxicities Force Pause on Two Dose Groups of UniQure’s Mid-Stage Fabry Study
The gene therapy uses an AAV vector to restore healthy levels of the alpha-galactosidase enzyme, which is rendered dysfunctional in patients with Fabry disease, leading to the toxic build-up of lipids in cells.
February 9, 2026
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1 min read
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Tristan Manalac
A contemporary artistic collage featuring a hand holding a trophy. The concept of victory and achievement.
Gene therapy
Ultragenyx’s Gene Therapy Shows Long-Term Efficacy in Two Sanfilippo Studies
The FDA in July last year declined to approve UX111 for Sanfilippo syndrome, a rare neurodegenerative disorder, citing manufacturing issues. Ultragenyx resubmitted its application ten days ago, expecting a six month review time.
February 9, 2026
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
IPO Initial Public Offering finance business concept. 3D render vector illustration of Trading on IPO Initial Public Offering, Business Startup and Stock Market Concept. Public offering share launch
IPO
Eikon Clocks Largest IPO Since 2024, Generate, AgomAb Follow
Analysts are cautiously optimistic about an IPO rebound for biopharma. BioSpace is keeping track of companies that seek to trade on the public markets this year.
February 6, 2026
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5 min read
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Tristan Manalac
A contemporary artistic collage featuring a hand holding a trophy. The concept of victory and achievement.
Immunology and inflammation
Priovant Plots Path to Phase 3 as Brepocitinib Clears Mid-Stage Skin Disease Study
According to Priovant, the Phase 2 BEACON study is the first industry-sponsored placebo-controlled trial in cutaneous sarcoidosis to deliver positive data.
February 6, 2026
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary delivers remarks after President Donald Trump made an announcement on drug pricing, Tuesday, September 30, 2025, in the Oval Office. (Official White House Photo by Joyce N. Boghosian)
GLP-1
Makary Blasts ‘Illegal Copycat Drugs’ as Hims Launches Compounded Wegovy Pill
Novo Nordisk has also spoken out strongly against Hims & Hers’ compounded Wegovy pill, with CEO Maziar Mike Doustdar telling investors the knockoff version is a waste of money.
February 6, 2026
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1 min read
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Tristan Manalac
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Pipeline
Novartis Cuts 6 Early Cancer Candidates, Adds 2 to Refine Oncology Strategy
Despite the Phase 1 cull, CEO Vas Narasimhan on Wednesday maintained that Novartis continues to invest in its early-stage pipeline, looking for deals in the “sub-$2-billion range.”
February 5, 2026
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
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Business
Stem Cell Specialist PrimeGen Takes SPAC Track to Nasdaq
The SPAC agreement values PrimeGen US at $1.5 billion in equity and gives it capital to advance its pre-clinical triple-activated mesenchymal stem cell pipeline into the clinic.
February 5, 2026
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1 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Eli Lilly's world headquarters in Indianapolis
pipeline
Lilly Axes 3 Therapies Amid Pipeline-in-a-Product Push for GLP-1
One of the assets shelved by Eli Lilly is a gene therapy for dementia, which it obtained in its $1.04-billion acquisition of Prevail Therapeutics in late 2020.
February 5, 2026
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
3D illustration of tow GLP-1 therapy autoinjectors
Earnings
Amgen Wants MariTide To Change Obesity Paradigm With Longer Dosing Periods
Amgen believes that it can transcend the expected tradeoff between convenience and efficacy, anticipating that its investigational obesity drug MariTide will continue to provide competitive weight loss even at monthly or longer schedules.
February 4, 2026
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
GSK's headquarters office building in Poznan, Poland
Earnings
GSK Says No to GLP-1s, Prioritizes ‘Downstream Effects’ of Obesity
Instead of joining the increasingly crowded GLP-1 arena, GSK will focus its efforts downstream of obesity—a push currently anchored by its Phase III-ready FGF21 analog efimosfermin alfa for liver fibrosis.
February 4, 2026
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
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