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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.

Gilead's headquarters in Silicon Valley
HIV
Gilead Partners With US State Department to Distribute Yeztugo to Low-Income Countries
In coordination with the United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, Gilead will make its twice-yearly HIV prophylactic Yeztugo available to resource-limited countries “at no profit.”
September 5, 2025
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1 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Concept art for large layoffs showing a line of blocks a cliff
Layoffs
AC Immune Downsizes by 30%, Narrows Pipeline Focus
The reprioritization effort will help AC Immune extend its cash runway through the third quarter of 2027.
September 4, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Washington, D.C., USA- January 13, 2020: FDA Sign at its headquarters in Washington DC. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or USFDA) is a federal agency of the USA.
Regulatory
‘All Wrapper, No Gift’: FDA Releases New Rare Disease Approval Framework
While the new framework signals continued flexibility at the FDA regarding rare disease approvals, some analysts and advocates question what tangible impacts the new guidelines will have.
September 4, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Vaccines
Prasad Demands YouTube Remove Videos Where He Criticized COVID-19 Vaccines
YouTube has shut down a channel containing hundreds of videos of comments made by doctors and other influencers—including CBER Director Vinay Prasad, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya—during the pandemic. This comes as Prasad reveals further details about last week’s updated COVID-19 approvals.
September 4, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Sea wave. Hand drawn realistic vector illustration in oriental vintage ukiyo-e style.
RNA editing
Wave Crashes Despite Successful RNA Editing in AATD Study
Wave’s RNA editor resulted in protein levels that were “exceedingly close” to what investors were expecting, but nevertheless fell short of that bar, according to analysts at Truist Securities.
September 4, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Vaccines
Prasad Signals Steeper Requirements for COVID-19 Vaccines
In a series of memos last week, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research Director Vinay Prasad outlined the FDA’s thinking on the recent limited approvals for updated COVID-19 vaccines.
September 3, 2025
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3 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Cairo, Egypt, October 31 2024: Novartis CO building in Egypt, Novartis AG is a Swiss multinational pharmaceutical corporation based in Basel, Switzerland, manufactures the drugs
Cardiovascular disease
Novartis Doubles Down on Argo Pact With Fresh $5.2B Commitment
Novartis and Argo Biopharma go back to January 2024, when the pharma first bet up to $4.165 billion across two RNAi agreements targeting cardiovascular diseases.
September 3, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Contemporary art collage of human hands holding a arrow pointing up, graphs and diagrams. Concept of profit, making money, business. Copy space.
Cardiovascular disease
Ionis’ Tryngolza Hits ‘Best-Case Scenario’ in Late-Stage Triglyceride Study
Aside from lowering triglyceride levels, Ionis’ olezarsen reduced acute pancreatitis events, an outcome that BMO Capital Markets said could help the asset deliver a “significant first-in-class commercial launch.”
September 3, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Modern collage with human heart and hands stock illustration
Cardiovascular disease
Cytokinetics Soars on Aficamten’s ‘Best-in-Class’ Performance in Phase III Cardio Study
Data from the late-stage MAPLE-HCM study position Cytokinetics’ cardiac myosin inhibitor aficamten as a potential first-line therapy for patients with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
September 3, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
A hand about to burst a money bubble with a pin. Metaphor for an economic or financial bubble crisis.
IPO
After 2021 SPAC Bubble, How Did These 6 Biotechs Fare?
Some of the biggest SPACs from the industry’s pandemic-fueled heyday are no longer on the market.
September 3, 2025
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10 min read
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Tristan Manalac
2D illustration of the gut with microorganisms
Inflammatory bowel disease
Roche Makes Preclinical IBD Play in $420M+ OMass Pact
The OMass partnership will boost Roche’s strategy in inflammatory bowel diseases, currently led by afimkibart, an anti-TL1A therapy the pharma obtained from its $7.1 billion acquisition of Telavant in 2023.
September 2, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Sep 17, 2020 Fremont / CA / USA - Novo Nordisk headquarters in Silicon Valley; Novo Nordisk A/S is a Danish multinational pharmaceutical company
Cardiovascular disease
Novo’s Wegovy Cuts Cardio Risk by 57% Versus Tirzepatide
Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy has been on a winning streak as of late, with a metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis approval last month and prime position in the oral obesity race.
September 2, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Brain neuro cell growth or damaging drawing with texture shading illustration isolated on dark background
Approvals
Biogen, Eisai Win FDA Nod for Subcutaneous Maintenance Leqembi
While the approval of Leqembi Iqlik bodes well for Biogen and Eisai’s planned application for a subcutaneous induction regimen next year, its financial impact remains “uncertain,” as potentially higher revenues from the injection could be offset by steeper costs of production, according to Jefferies.
September 2, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Indianapolis, U.S. - April 16, 2016: Eli Lilly and Company World Headquarters. Lilly makes Medicines and Pharmaceuticals VII
Obesity
Lilly Ends Two Mid-Stage Trials for Second Oral Obesity Asset
While Eli Lilly’s orforglipron is full speed ahead for a regulatory filing this year, the pharma is also pushing forward with one more Phase II study of naperiglipron, which uses the same scaffold as Pfizer’s failed obesity drugs danuglipron and lotiglipron.
September 2, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Silver Spring, MD, USA 11/10/2020: Exterior view of the headquarters of US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This federal agency approves medications, vaccines and food additives for human use.
Regulatory
Rare Diseases Secure Four FDA Firsts in August
Aside from the rare disease market, Novo Nordisk also scored a key regulatory win last month for its blockbuster GLP-1 drug Wegovy, which can now be used to treat patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis.
September 2, 2025
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6 min read
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Tristan Manalac
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