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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.

Tariffs
Novo Opposes Pharma Tariffs, Urges Crackdown on Illicit Chinese Semaglutide
In a letter to the Department of Commerce, Novo Nordisk argued that unsanctioned compounded semaglutide, mostly from China, constitutes a national security threat to the U.S.
May 29, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Facade of Moderna's building in Massachusetts
Infectious disease
Moderna Loses $760M+ Government Bird Flu Contract as Vaccine Uncertainties Mount
The canceled contract comes as Moderna nears a critical FDA decision for its next-generation COVID-19 vaccine.
May 29, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Loss of one drug name. Ban on a drug or its shortage. Exclusion from the list of free drugs available under the medical social program.
Rare diseases
InflaRx Axes Rare Skin Disease Study on Disappointing Late-Stage Data
InflaRx’s vilobelimab met the bar for futility in a Phase III trial for the rare skin disease pyoderma gangrenosum.
May 28, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Medical syringe and bottle with liquid drug in continuous line art drawing style. Treatment, immunization and vaccination minimalist design. Vector illustration
Vaccines
RFK Jr. Removes CDC COVID Vaccine Recommendation for Healthy Children, Pregnant Women
In a video posted to social media on Tuesday, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. claimed that there is a lack of clinical data to support the repeat COVID-19 booster strategy in children.
May 28, 2025
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3 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Illustration of a group of businessmen white-collar workers dismissed
Layoffs
AbbVie’s Allergan Cuts Over 200 Staff After Botched Marketing Campaign
The layoffs will take effect on July 22 and particularly target those working in sales, data engineering and product management.
May 28, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Art collage, hands and scales of justice. The concept of the law of the judge.
Legal
Former Chinook Board Member Indicted for Insider Trading Related to $3.2B Novartis Buy
Rouzbeh Haghighat was serving on the board of Chinook Therapeutics at the time of the Novartis acquisition and, according to the DOJ’s allegations, used confidential information to conduct insider trading.
May 28, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Perspective way to invest money. Hands with dollar sign coins around yellow light bulb over blue background
Clinical research
Undeterred by Political, Economic Headwinds, Pharma Ups R&D Investment in 2024 and Beyond
R&D spending across the global pharmaceutical sector climbed 1.5% in 2024, according to unreleased data from Evaluate Pharma.
May 28, 2025
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12 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.
Funding
Novo-Backed GlycoEra Raises $130M To Advance Protein Degraders for Precision Immunology
GlycoEra’s lead candidate targets IgG4 autoantibodies, potentially addressing autoimmune diseases such as muscle-specific kinase myasthenia gravis and pemphigus.
May 27, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Red round circle with a pause button or icon against yellow background.
Gene therapy
Rocket’s Danon Disease Gene Therapy on Hold After Patient Death
Acute systemic infection caused the patient to develop fatal capillary leak syndrome, highlighting the unpredictability of gene therapies and potentially challenging investment in the space, analysts say.
May 27, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
TV host Dr. Mehmet Oz speaking at a Senate hearing
Drug pricing
Trump Taps Oz To Lead Drug Pricing Negotiations as Customs Warns Against Import Violations
According to President Trump, CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz is a “tough hombre” who can bring down drug costs “like a rock.”
May 27, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Business and financial crisis vector concept with businessman falling down the hole. Symbol of market crash, recession, risk, bankruptcy and loss. Eps10 illustration.
Rare diseases
Prothena Looks at Business Options as Phase III AL Amyloidosis Trial Fails
Prothena has already discontinued the development of birtamimab, and anticipates further spending cuts, including workforce reduction.
May 27, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Chicago, Illinois, USA on Lake Michigan at dawn.
Cancer
Practice-Changing Data, Innovative Modalities and China in Focus at #ASCO25
Beginning this week in Chicago, the American Association for Cancer Research’s annual conference will feature presentations that could have far-reaching implications for breast and blood cancers and more.
May 27, 2025
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7 min read
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Tristan Manalac
A contemporary artistic collage featuring a hand holding a trophy. The concept of victory and achievement.
Cancer
Merus’ Bispecific Shows ‘Best in Disease’ Profile in Head-and-Neck Cancer Ahead of ASCO
Analysts were effusive about Merus’ new HNSCC data, writing that petosemtamab could “become the standard of care” in the first-line setting for this indication.
May 23, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Poznan, Poland - 5 October 2024: GSK -Glaxosmithkline headquarters office building in Poznan.
Immunology and inflammation
GSK Wins COPD Expansion for Nucala After FDA Delay
The approval tees GSK up to challenge Sanofi and Regeneron, which in September 2024 won the first biologic approval for COPD for their blockbuster antibody Dupixent.
May 23, 2025
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1 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Taylor Tieden for BioSpace
Government
Changes to IRA Pill Penalty Conspicuously Absent as Congress Narrowly Passes Trump’s Tax Bill
The “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” includes negotiation exemptions for orphan drugs approved to treat more than one rare disease and has implications for PBMs. Also on Thursday, the White House released its MAHA report with a mission to “make our children healthy again.”
May 23, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
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