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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.

Illustration of businesspeople heading to exit
Government
CDER Employees Leave FDA in Droves Amid HHS Overhaul
In the first six months of 2025, 385 employees resigned from the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, compared with under 130 staff during the same period last year.
July 17, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
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Neuropsychiatric disorders
Otsuka, Lundbeck’s PTSD Bid for Rexulti Hits Speedbump as FDA Questions Efficacy
FDA reviewers flag “discordant results” in a briefing document published ahead of Friday’s advisory committee meeting for the partners’ application for the antipsychotic in post-traumatic stress disorder.
July 17, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Adult hand intends to puncture a balloon held by a girl. Child neglect and suppression dreams and wishes of kid. Parental control and authoritarian nurturing. Psychological abuse and domestic violence
Antibody-drug conjugate
GSK’s Blenrep DREAMMs Turn Fitful as FDA Questions Comeback in Multiple Myeloma
In advance of this week’s adcomm, the FDA flags ocular toxicities associated with the antibody-drug conjugate, which received accelerated approval in August 2020 but was pulled from the market two years later after a confirmatory trial failed to improve progression-free survival.
July 16, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Creative collage illustration of financial business. Two businessmen shaking hands for partners agreement. Conceptual illustration of success deal, corporate ethic, connection.
Mergers & acquisitions
Merck, AstraZeneca Cancer Collaborator Gets Swallowed Up by Sino Biopharm
Shanghai-based LaNova Medicines—which has captured the attention of some of the biggest Western pharmas—will be folded into fellow Chinese company Sino Biopharmaceutical in a deal worth up to $951 million.
July 16, 2025
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1 min read
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Tristan Manalac
COVID-19
Vinay Prasad Overruled Reviewers on Moderna’s COVID-19 Shot for Kids
In a July 9 memo, the director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research contended there was not enough evidence that the benefits of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine Spikevax outweighed its risks in healthy children.
July 16, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Female handshake. Flat design. Two business women in green and yellow clothes against the blue background of the metropolis shake hands
M&A
5 Women Biotech Leaders Bagging Billions in M&A Dollars
Some of the most high-profile acquisitions in recent years have involved women-fronted biotechs. BioSpace reviews five of the most notable here.
July 16, 2025
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8 min read
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Tristan Manalac
top view squishy unicorn toy on a pastel pink background
Startups
AI-Focused Biotech Unicorns Face Chilly Market Where IPOs Aren’t Guaranteed
Seven biotech unicorns are advancing AI-powered drug discovery and development—but must contend with a difficult investing environment where competition is steep and the usual roads to exit are uncertain.
July 16, 2025
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14 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Entrance to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in Washington, DC
Layoffs
HHS Begins Formally Laying Off Employees
Thousands of employees across HHS were terminated Monday evening after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled last week that the Trump administration could move forward with its sweeping reorganization of the agency.
July 15, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Wood block with healthcare medical icon on blue background. Health care insurance concept
Infectious disease
Gilead, GSK/ViiV, Merck Present New HIV PrEP Frontiers at IAS25
HIV pharma leaders are in Kigali, Rwanda for IAS 2025, touting their latest advancements in HIV and PrEP development on the heels of the landmark Yeztugo approval.
July 15, 2025
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4 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Policy
FDA Commissioner Marty Makary Proposes Lowering Industry User Fees
According to Makary, reducing user fees—which make up just under half of the FDA’s budget—could make it easier for smaller companies, individual investors and academics to participate in the process.
July 15, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Takeda sign at its office in Massachusetts
Neuroscience
Takeda Establishes Lead in Narcolepsy Race With Back-to-Back Phase III Wins
Takeda’s oveporexton improved wakefulness, attention and other key narcolepsy endpoints “with a high degree of statistical significance,” according to Jefferies analysts.
July 14, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
vector illustration arrows miss the target board, concept of lost in focus, failure, fail, mistake
Depression
After Three Strikes, Relmada Abandons Depression Drug Esmethadone 
The development saga for the depression molecule has been rocky for years, unable to ease symptoms in multiple late-stage trials.
July 14, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Contemporary art collage. Giang hand kicking office worker symbolizing dismissal. Unsuccessful employee. Job reduction. Concept of business, career, failure, success, troubles
Rare diseases
Ultragenyx Takes Second Hit as FDA Rejects Gene Therapy for Sanfilippo Syndrome
The FDA cited manufacturing issues but did not flag problems with Ultragenyx’s data package for UX111, with the biotech noting that the regulator found its neurodevelopmental findings for the gene therapy to be “robust.”
July 14, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Regulatory
FDA Mulls Speedier Reviews to Companies Willing To Lower Drug Costs
Through its recently unveiled Priority Voucher program, the FDA seeks to accelerate the review process for companies that promise to keep prices down.
July 14, 2025
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1 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pharmaceutical research and new medicine biotechnology or revolutionary medication discovery health concept with prescription pill symbols with 3D illustration elements.
Obesity
Obesity in Focus: ADA Reveals R&D Priorities for Blockbusters-in-Waiting
New data and analyses presented at the American Diabetes Association’s annual meeting highlight the priorities for the next generation of weight loss medicines: muscle preservation, limited side effects and novel targets.
July 14, 2025
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9 min read
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Tristan Manalac
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