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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.

Two hands locked in a handshake cut by a pair of scissors, symbolizing a severed relationship or partnership. Black and white collage illustration on paper textured background
Collaboration
Amgen, Ideaya Call It Quits on Cancer Combo
Amgen will continue to advance half of the combo, PRMT5 inhibitor AMG 193, for which it is running a mid-stage trial in MTAP-null advanced non-small cell lung cancer.
February 14, 2025
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Tristan Manalac
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Immunology and inflammation
Pliant Brings in Outside Experts to Review IPF Study Pause
The experts will assess unblinded data from BEACON-IPF to figure out why a data safety monitoring board recommended suspension of the idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis trial.
February 14, 2025
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Tristan Manalac
Sanofi's Distribution Center in Quebec, Canada
Vaccines
Sanofi Hit With $250M Impairment After Scrapping J&J-Partnered E. coli Vaccine
Without providing specific data, Sanofi on Thursday announced that the experimental vaccine did not significantly prevent invasive E. coli disease versus placebo.
February 13, 2025
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Tristan Manalac
Female alcoholism concept. Unhappy woman sitting at bottle bottom hugging her knees. Sad drunk wife or alcoholic mother. Social issue, abuse, addiction. Empty alcohol drink bottles vector Illustration
GLP-1
Novo’s Semaglutide Shows Promise for Alcohol Use Disorder
The data, published in JAMA Psychiatry, add to the growing body of evidence supporting the use of GLP-1 receptor agonists for addictive disorders.
February 13, 2025
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Tristan Manalac
Roche's tower in Shanghai, China
Approvals
Roche’s Evrysdi Becomes First Pill Cleared for Spinal Muscular Atrophy
Evrysdi is the first, and so far only, noninvasive disease-modifying treatment for spinal muscular atrophy.
February 13, 2025
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Tristan Manalac
Signage at Pfizer's world headquarters in New York City
Approvals
Pfizer Continues Cancer Rally as Adectris Label Expands to Non-Hodgkin Lymphomas
Leaked data showed that Pfizer’s mevrometostat has strong therapeutic potential in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer, while recent readouts also position the pharma as a strong contender in colorectal cancer and bladder cancer.
February 13, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Handshake gesture contemporary collage art. Celebrating success, congratulating for financial and business partnership, job contract deal, mutual friendship and respect. Abstract illustration isolated.
Collaboration
Biogen Taps Royalty Pharma for $250M to Power Phase III Lupus Program
The funding agreement comes as Biogen revealed a modest Q4 sales beat, which analysts expect will be “overshadowed” by the company’s forecasted dip in 2025 revenues.
February 12, 2025
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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
Approvals
SpringWorks Wins FDA Nod for Neurofibromatosis Drug, Tees Up Challenge to AstraZeneca
The approval comes days after Germany’s Merck KGaA confirmed it was in advanced talks to acquire SpringWorks.
February 12, 2025
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Tristan Manalac
Incyte's logo on its building in Delaware
Collaboration
Incyte Backs Out of Immuno-Oncology Pact With Agenus
The partnership dates back to 2015, when Incyte paid $60 million upfront for access to four checkpoint programs, including TIM-3, LAG-3, OX40 and GITR.
February 12, 2025
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Tristan Manalac
Gilead's headquarters in Silicon Valley
Infectious disease
Anticipating Approval, Gilead Gears Up for Mid-Year Launch for Lenacapavir PrEP
Gilead beat consensus estimates in Q4 with $7.6 billion in revenue, driven largely by its HIV drug Biktarvy and CAR T therapies Trodelvy and Yescarta.
February 12, 2025
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Tristan Manalac
Novartis' office building in Marburg, Germany
Mergers & acquisitions
Novartis Bets Up to $3.1B to Buy Back Blood Thinner in Anthos Acquisition
Novartis is paying $925 million upfront to acquire Anthos Therapeutics, whose launch the pharma backed in February 2019.
February 11, 2025
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Merck KGaA signage at its headquarters in Darmstadt, Germany
Mergers & acquisitions
Merck KGaA Courts Cancer Biotech SpringWorks for Potential Buyout
Following an initial report from Reuters, Merck KGaA confirmed that it is in talks with SpringWorks for a potential acquisition, though details of its offer have yet to be revealed.
February 11, 2025
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Eli Lilly's biotechnology center in California
Collaboration
Lilly Signs Back-to-Back Deals in MASH, Cancer
Eli Lilly inked two collaborations on Monday, one focused on cardiometabolic diseases with South Korea’s OliX Pharmaceuticals and another for cancer therapies with Australia’s AdvanCell.
February 11, 2025
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Tristan Manalac
Entrance to Vertex's office in Boston, Massachusetts
Pain
Vertex Eyes Expansive, Easy Access for Journavx in Coming Weeks
Vertex expects to make the newly approved non-opioid pain medicine Journavx available by the end of February.
February 11, 2025
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Bristol Myers Squibb office in California
Lymphoma
BMS Positions Breyanzi for Another Indication as LOE Woes Mount
Adding a new indication for the CAR T cell therapy could help BMS offset the loss-of-exclusivity headwinds it faces in the coming years.
February 10, 2025
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Tristan Manalac
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