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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.

Symbol of money dollar from colored pills and capsules on green background. Expensive medicine and medical insurance
Tariffs
Trump Opens National Security Probe on Pharma Imports, Signaling Imminent Tariffs
Trump could use the findings of the probe to impose certain trade restrictions on pharma products, including tariffs.
April 15, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Reducing the dose of medicine. Splitting the pills. Health care and medication. White medical pill broken into three pieces on blue background.
Weight loss
Pfizer Drops Lead Obesity Asset After Liver Safety Concerns, Overall Review
Pfizer’s discontinuation of danuglipron brings the company down to a single molecule in its obesity pipeline.
April 14, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Flat lay composition with sleep eye mask, dream book and alarm clock on dark blue background. Healthy sleeping concept.
Legal
Vanda Sues FDA Again, This Time Over Off-Label Use of Hetlioz for Jet Lag
Vanda is criticizing the FDA’s restrictions on information companies can provide regarding off-label use of approved medicines.
April 14, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Elevated View Of Pink Piggybank And Blue Arrow Signs Showing Various Direction
Mergers & acquisitions
Theratechnologies in Talks with Anonymous Potential Buyer While Fielding Future Pak Buyout Offer
Future Pak—whose acquisition offer was rejected by Vanda Pharmaceuticals last summer—is offering to buy Theratechnologies for an unsolicited $255 million. The Canadian biotech is under an exclusivity agreement with another yet-to-be-disclosed potential purchaser.
April 14, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is sworn in as Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services at the White House, Thursday, February 13, 2025. (Official White House Photo by Joyce Boghosian.)
Government
HHS Secretary Kennedy Accuses FDA Employees of Being Industry ‘Sock Puppet’
Leerink analysts warned that Kennedy’s remarks to FDA staff would likely be a negative for the biotech industry.
April 14, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
A scientist with pill bottles in front of FDA headquarters
FDA
FDA Action Alert: Regeneron, Sanofi and Abeona
Lined up for the FDA in the coming weeks are a cell-based gene therapy for a rare skin disease and two product expansions for Regeneron, one with partner Sanofi.
April 14, 2025
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3 min read
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Tristan Manalac
US Capitol_Andrea Izzotti_Adobe Stock
Government
Lawmakers Seek to Boost US Biotech Sector, Keep China’s Growth in Check
According to analysts at Jefferies, legislation such as the newly proposed bills that aim to streamline regulatory processes would be a positive for the biotech industry.
April 11, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Marburg, Germany - July 6, 2013: Marburg Office of Swiss multinational company Novartis AG
Manufacturing
Novartis Pledges $23B Boost to US Ops as Trump Intensifies Tariff Threats
Novartis plans to build seven new facilities in the U.S., touting the creation of up to 1,000 new jobs at the company. The new facilities will include a biomedical research hub in California, two radioligand plants, and four manufacturing sites.
April 11, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Exterior view of the headquarters of the
FDA
FDA To Replace Some Animal Testing With AI, Human ‘Organoid’ Lab Models
Analysts at William Blair expect drug developers will continue to perform “at least some animal testing” on their investigational products. Though the process to phase out animal testing will begin “immediately,” no specific timetable was given.
April 11, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Funding
Tempest Scrambles for Ways to Bankroll Late-Stage Liver Cancer Asset
According to Tempest, its options include a partnership or licensing deal, as well as a merger or an acquisition.
April 10, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Illustration of an elderly woman climbing the stairs cheerfully and an elderly woman who looks distressed
Neuroscience
Annexon Touts ‘Rapid’ and ‘Durable’ Improvements for Targeted Guillain-Barré Therapy
Jefferies analysts predict Annexon’s tanruprubart could be approved by mid-2026.
April 10, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Amgen sign at its headquarters in Thousand Oaks, California, USA.
Immunology and inflammation
Amgen’s Uplizna Deepens Response Through 1 Year in Myasthenia Gravis
Leerink analysts noted, however, that Uplizna’s slow onset of therapeutic efficacy compares unfavorably to would-be competitors in generalized myasthenia gravis.
April 10, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Entrance to the U.S. Department of Healt
Government
Appeals Court Stops Rehiring of Fired Federal Workers, Including From HHS
The Fourth Circuit’s ruling follows a Supreme Court verdict that also allowed the Trump administration to move forward with its mass layoffs at federal agencies.
April 10, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Stack of coins balancing on seesaw over a bottle of pills.
Tariffs
Trump Says ‘Major’ Pharma Tariffs Coming ‘Very Shortly’ After Sparing Industry on Liberation Day
Analysts suggested that the tariffs will have little effect on reshoring manufacturing and will likely decrease patient drug access and increase costs.
April 9, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
USA and China trade war. US of America and chinese flags crashed containers on sky at sunset background. 3d illustration
China
Amid Trade Tensions, Commission Warns China is ‘Dangerously Close’ to Overtaking US Biotech
The National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology recommends at least a $15 billion investment into biotech over the next five years.
April 9, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
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