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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.

Pictured: GSK laboratories in Dresden, Germany
Earnings
GSK Looks to Deal in Cancer, Respiratory, Inflammation in 2025
Despite significant dips in its vaccines sales, the British pharma narrowly beat consensus estimates for Q4 2024 and raised 2031 sales projections to just over $50 billion.
February 5, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Amgen sign at its headquarters in Thousand Oaks, California, USA.
Earnings
Pipeline Problems Mar Amgen’s Q4 Beat
Amgen outperformed expectations in the fourth quarter of 2024, but revealed an FDA hold on early-stage obesity asset AMG 513 and the discontinuation of other programs.
February 5, 2025
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3 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Illustration of two hands shaking while another hand gently grips a wrist
Collaboration
The Top 7 Biopharma Licensing Deals of 2024
Faced with the encroaching threats of patent expirations and generics, biopharma companies in 2024 invested 33% more in licensing deals, on average, than in 2023 with an eye toward enriching their pipelines with novel and potentially more effective therapies.
February 5, 2025
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8 min read
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Tristan Manalac
South side and Dome of the US Capitol in Washington DC, United States
Government
RFK Jr. Passes First Hurdle as Nomination Moves to Full Senate Vote
Senator Bill Cassidy voted with fellow Republicans on the Senate Finance Committee Tuesday morning to move forward the nomination of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. for HHS secretary.
February 4, 2025
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3 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Regeneron logo on a light brown building
Earnings
Regeneron Misses on Eylea, Dupixent Sales; Issues First-Ever Dividends
Despite lackluster sales of Eylea’s high-dose formulation and Sanofi-partnered Dupixent, Regeneron beat Q4 forecasts overall thanks in part to cancer therapy Libtayo and gave shareholders a cut of the profits for the first time in the company’s long history.
February 4, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Weigh scales on pink background, top view with space for text. Overweight concept
Obesity
UK Pharmacies Regulator Wants Tighter Checks on Weight Loss Injections
Amid growing concern of the overuse and misuse of obesity drugs, the UK’s pharmacies regulator rolled out stricter guidelines for online pharmacies selling medicines including Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy and Eli Lilly’s Mounjaro.
February 4, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Sign in front of Pfizer in Quebec, Canada
Cancer
Pfizer Sees Path to Braftovi’s Full Approval With Phase III CRC Data
Topline data on a combo including Pfizer’s kinase inhibitor Braftovi point to improved progression-free survival and pave the way for its full approval for the treatment of certain colorectal cancers, according to the company.
February 3, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Government
Trump’s Tariffs Threaten Big Pharma With Higher Costs and Slimmer Margins
J&J, AstraZeneca, Novo Nordisk and Roche are among the companies that might take a hit from the soon-to-be-enacted fees, according to analysts.
February 3, 2025
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3 min read
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Tristan Manalac
A scientist with pill bottles in front of FDA headquarters
Regulatory
FDA Action Alert: GSK, Indivior, SpringWorks, More
The rare disease space is awaiting two FDA verdicts in February, one for a genetic disease and another for a non-malignant tumor.
February 3, 2025
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5 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Profile view, and Mental Illness
Approvals
Axsome’s Migraine Medicine Clears FDA Bar
The approval of Axsome Therapeutics’ Symbravo for migraine with or without aura came alongside the greenlight for Vertex’s non-opioid treatment Journavx.
January 31, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Novartis head office building in Dorval, Quebec, Canada
Earnings
Novartis Eyes More Bolt-On Deals in 2025 as Q4 Earnings Easily Beat Consensus
Novartis was among the most prolific pharma dealmakers in 2024, a trend that it expects to continue with more bolt-on deals this year to set up for sustainable long-term growth.
January 31, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Government
RFK Jr. Again Faces Scrutiny Over Vaccines on Day 2 of Confirmation Hearing
Senators on the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions committee were critical of Kennedy’s long history as an anti-vaccine campaigner.
January 31, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
A piggy bank crammed with $100 bills on a background of American cash
Venture capitalists
Blackstone Launches New $5B+ Fund for Life Sciences
Blackstone joins other big investors such as ARCH Venture Partners and Bain Capital Life Sciences in pumping billions of dollars into the industry.
January 31, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Roche's signage at its office in France
Earnings
Roche to Stay ‘Disciplined’ With Deals in 2025
For 2025, Roche will continue a careful approach to high-priced deals, putting science at the center of its business development decisions, executives said Thursday.
January 30, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
cutting off a row of people into pieces
Layoffs
Ironwood Chops Half of Staff as 2025 Guidance Disappoints
The layoffs will allow Ironwood to dedicate more resources to pushing its lead molecule apraglutide through a Phase III trial and a rolling NDA submission.
January 30, 2025
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1 min read
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Tristan Manalac
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