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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.

Update: AbbVie headquarters building in California
Neuropsychiatric disorders
AbbVie Absorbs $3.5B Cost of Schizophrenia Flop
Emraclidine was the centerpiece of AbbVie’s $8.7 billion acquisition of Cerevel in December 2023 but failed two mid-stage trials. Tavapadon, meanwhile, has been a more rewarding asset for the pharma, clearing three Phase III Parkinson’s studies in 2024.
January 13, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
3D illustration of tow GLP-1 therapy autoinjectors
IPO
Metsera Moves Fast in Crowded Obesity Market With IPO Plans
Metsera will use its IPO proceeds to fund the Phase III development of its injectable, ultra-long-acting GLP-1 therapy MET-097i, which last week achieved 11.3% weight loss in a Phase IIa study.
January 13, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
GSK's headquarters office building in Poznan, Poland
Mergers & acquisitions
GSK Targets Rare Cancer With $1B+ Acquisition of IDRx
The first major deal of JPM 2025 will give GSK a promising small molecule drug for gastrointestinal stromal tumors.
January 13, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Blue DNA molecule helix with red human heart. Hereditary heart diseases, diagnosis of genetic diseases concept. Gene editing, biotechnology engineering. Low poly style Wireframe light structure Vector
Gene therapy
5 Cardio Gene Therapies on the Near Horizon
Benefiting from technological and conceptual groundwork and positive early data, gene therapies are advancing in the clinic for cardiovascular diseases including congestive heart failure, chronic refractory angina and cardiomyopathy.
January 13, 2025
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9 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Sign in front of Pfizer in Quebec, Canada
Bladder cancer
Pfizer’s Subcutaneous PD-1 Blocker Aces Phase III in Bladder Cancer, Carves Niche Versus Keytruda
If approved, Pfizer’s sasanlimab will distinguish itself from Merck’s blockbuster Keytruda as the first PD-1 inhibitor indicated in combination with BCG for high-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer patients who had not previously undergone BCG treatment.
January 10, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Concept of money prize. Vector illustration. Halftone hand holds bouquet of money flowers. Gift prize, donation, earnings, bonus or cashback concept. Retro poster or banner. Creative trend collage.
Drug pricing
Part D Drugs Almost Doubled in Cost Since Launch, Underscoring Importance of IRA: AARP
Concurrently, a preprint from the industry-backed Vital Transformation found a 50% drop in company investments into small-molecule drug development.
January 10, 2025
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3 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Eli Lilly's headquarters in Indianapolis
Collaboration
Lilly Makes $780M+ IPF Play with Mediar Partnership
Eli Lilly’s idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis deal with Mediar is centered around MTX-463, an anti-WISP1 antibody that early studies have found to be safe and capable of engaging its target.
January 10, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Boehringer Ingelheim sign on a building/
Collaboration
Boehringer Ingelheim Expands Cancer Pipeline With Back-to-Back Antibody Deals
On Thursday, Boehringer Ingelheim announced a partnership with Synaffix to advance antibody-drug conjugates and exercised its fourth license option under a 2013 collaboration with Oxford BioTherapeutics.
January 10, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Banner Successful Launch New Idea Cartoon Flat. Incandescent in Form Rocket Takes off from Large Box. Man and Woman Rejoice at Launch New Successful Idea or Project. Vector Illustration.
Startups
GSK-backed Ouro Launches With $120M to ‘Reset’ the Immune System
Ouro is planning to leverage T cell engagers to deplete B cells and “reset” the immune system to treat immune-mediated diseases.
January 10, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
A contemporary artistic collage featuring a hand holding a trophy. The concept of victory and achievement.
Autoimmune disease
MaaT Clears Phase III in GVHD, Eyes European Submission By Midyear
MaaT013 in 2022 was put under clinical hold by the FDA, which cited safety and efficacy concerns with the sample-pooling method used to produce the investigational therapy. The hold was lifted in April 2023.
January 9, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Trendy halftone business concept collage. Idea concept, business concept, financial planning,financial profit, favorable conditions, favorable conditions. Trendy modern retro illustration in bright trendy colors. Vector illustration
Startups
Verdiva Jumps Into Hot Obesity Market With $410M Debut, Eyes Next-Gen Therapies
The company’s lead asset is a potentially first-in-class oral GLP-1 receptor agonist that has the potential to be dosed weekly, which according to CEO Khurem Farooq can help improve accessibility and affordability.
January 9, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
FDA signage at its headquarters in Maryland
Regulatory
After Drug Rejection, Vanda Blasts ‘Unacceptable’ FDA Conduct in Letter to Commissioner
Vanda called the attention of FDA Commissioner Robert Califf to what it termed the “sentiment that the agency avoids public scrutiny of its decisions.”
January 9, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Lilly Institute for Genetic Medicine building in Boston, Ma, USA, on November 11, 2023. Eli Lilly and Company is an American pharmaceutical company.
Government
Lilly Wins Medicare Coverage for Zepbound in Sleep Apnea
According to BMO Capital Markets, Medicare coverage of Lilly’s Zepbound opens the door to using secondary indications to secure CMS coverage for obesity drugs.
January 9, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Roche's signage at its office in France
Mergers & acquisitions
Roche Nears Completion of Poseida Acquisition Worth Up to $1.5B
In a deal expected to close in Q1 2025, Roche will gain access to Poseida’s off-the-shelf CAR T candidates.
January 8, 2025
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3 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Correct decision chosing - confused man character standing on the crossroads and looking at signpost with three different directions - conceptual vector illustration
Cell therapy
Galapagos to Spin Out Innovative Medicines, Lay Off 40%
By mid-2025, the biotech will split into two entities: a new, as-yet-unnamed innovative medicines specialist and a cell therapy company, the latter of which will inherit the Galapagos name.
January 8, 2025
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3 min read
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Tristan Manalac
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