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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.

Set your goals is shown using the collage with aim and the hand. Business targeting, aiming, focus concept and way to achieve a goal
Immunology and inflammation
Amgen, Kyowa Kirin Bolster Safety Profile for Atopic Dermatitis Hopeful
Jefferies analysts expect a regulatory filing for rocatinlimab later this year, with a product launch in 2026.
September 10, 2025
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Tristan Manalac
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Lung cancer
Cullinan, Taiho’s NSCLC Hopeful Shows ‘Strong Activity,’ Clearing Road to FDA
Cullinan Therapeutics and Taiho Oncology’s zipalertinib elicited promising response rates in two mid-stage studies of non-small cell lung cancer patients with typical and uncommon EGFR mutations.
September 10, 2025
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Tristan Manalac
CDC
Ousted CDC Director Monarez to Testify In Front of Senate After RFK Jr. Clash
Former CDC director Susan Monarez and former chief medical officer Debra Houry will appear in front of the Senate HELP Committee on Sept. 17.
September 10, 2025
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Tristan Manalac
Corporate headquarters of Novo Nordisk in Denmark
Layoffs
Novo Axes 9,000 Employees Worldwide as New CEO Makes Good on Cost Reallocation Promise
Novo Nordisk also lowered its full-year profit growth guidance in connection with the restructuring effort. The pharma now anticipates operating profit to grow from 4% to 10%, down from its prior projection of 10% to 16%.
September 10, 2025
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Tristan Manalac
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Complete response letters
FDA Turns Away Ultra-Rare Disease Therapy
After receiving a complete response letter for its pyruvate dehydrogenase complex deficiency candidate, Saol Therapeutics anticipates it will need “several years” and “significant financial resources” to address the FDA’s concerns.
September 9, 2025
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Tristan Manalac
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Lung cancer
BMS, BioNTech Post Geographically Consistent Mid-Stage PD-L1/VEGF Data in SCLC
Truist Securities called pumitamig’s data on Monday “very reassuring,” given the consistency between its performance in Chinese and global patient populations.
September 9, 2025
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Tristan Manalac
Marburg, Germany - July 6, 2013: Marburg Office of Swiss multinational company Novartis AG
Mergers & acquisitions
Novartis Deals in Cardio Again, Dropping $1.4B To Acquire Tourmaline
Novartis has been investing heavily in its cardiovascular pipeline this year, forging partnerships with Flagship startup ProFound Therapeutics and China’s Argo Biopharmaceutical, among others.
September 9, 2025
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Tristan Manalac
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Allergies
Regeneron’s Antibodies Block Cat and Birch Allergies With ‘Robust Activity’
Regeneron’s antibody duos significantly lowered eye itching and redness, as well as pin prick reactivity, in people with cat and birch allergies. Still, BMO Capital Markets expressed uncertainty about the assets’ “commercial potential in a highly generic market.”
September 9, 2025
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Tristan Manalac
Employees wonder how to evaluate job security
Lung cancer
Summit’s Keytruda Challenger Hits Cross-Country Consistency Problems, Raising US Approval Questions
Ivonescimab elicited better overall survival in Asian patients with non-small cell lung cancer than in those from North America and European countries, in Western countries narrowly missing the statistical significance threshold the FDA is seeking.
September 8, 2025
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Tristan Manalac
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Neuroscience
Servier Bets $450M On Kaerus’ Fragile X Syndrome Therapy
KER-0193 is a modulator of ion channels connected to autism spectrum disorder. The FDA bestowed orphan drug and rare pediatric drug designations on the candidate earlier this year.
September 8, 2025
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Tristan Manalac
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Lung cancer
Merck, Daiichi Sankyo Stage Lung Cancer Rally With ‘Strong’ Pivotal Data for I-Dxd
According to analysts, the new data could present a path to accelerated approval for ifinatamab deruxtecan, a product of Merck and Daiichi Sankyo’s troubled ADC partnership.
September 8, 2025
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Tristan Manalac
Courtesy of diegograndi/Getty Images
GLP-1
WHO Adds GLP-1s to List of Essential Medicines
The World Health Organization’s Essential Medicines list guides high-level procurement and coverage decisions for over 150 countries.
September 8, 2025
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Tristan Manalac
Susan Monarez speaking to a senator at her confirmation hearing as CDC director
Government
Monarez Blasts Partisan Public Health Policy at CDC Under RFK Jr.
Ousted CDC Director Susan Monarez claimed in an op-ed published in The Wall Street Journal Thursday that she was fired for refusing to rubber-stamp COVID-19 recommendations to be made by an advisory panel that has expressed “antivaccine rhetoric.”
September 5, 2025
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Tristan Manalac
Sanofi's Distribution Center in Quebec, Canada
Immunology and inflammation
Sanofi’s Anti-OX40 Blocker Falls ‘Well Below Expectations’ in Phase III Eczema Study
Despite hitting its efficacy targets in the Phase III COAST-1 study, Sanofi’s amlitelimab remains “meaningfully inferior” to Dupixent, according to analysts at Leerink Partners.
September 5, 2025
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Tristan Manalac
Business people shaking hand in China.
China
Hengrui Licenses Heart Disease Drug to US Startup for up to $1B+
Hengrui Pharmaceuticals has been busy this year, signing a nearly $2 billion cardio contract with Merck in March and a 12-asset agreement with GSK in July worth up to $12 billion.
September 5, 2025
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Tristan Manalac
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