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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.

Human liver organ and pills. World hepatitis day. National liver health awareness month. Liver transplantation, donation background. Save patient life in hospital with liver transplant
Postmarket research
Intercept’s Troubled Drug Ocaliva Linked to ‘Serious Liver Injury’: FDA
Ocaliva recently failed to secure the FDA’s traditional approval for primary biliary cholangitis due to safety concerns.
December 13, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
cutting off a row of people into pieces
Layoffs
Editas Axes 60% of Staff, Sickle Cell Therapy After Failing to Find Partner
The company had said in October said that it was looking to license out its ex vivo editor renizgamglogene autogedtemcel to focus its resources on its in vivo platform.
December 13, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Contemporary art collage of hand holding an arrow showing fall. Modern design. Copy space.
Cardiovascular disease
Keros Suspends Two Arms of Hypertension Study After Reports of Pericardial Effusion
Keros’ stock plummeted more than 70% premarket Thursday and Truist Securities analysts predict it will remain under pressure until the safety concerns for cibotercept are resolved.
December 12, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Donald Trump behind a podium
Government
Lilly, Pfizer Execs Sing Optimistic Tune on Incoming Admin After Trump Dinner
A week after dining with Trump and his team at Mar-a-Lago, leaders at Pfizer and Eli Lilly have publicly stated that they intend to collaborate with the incoming administration on key issues affecting the pharma industry.
December 12, 2024
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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.
Prostate cancer
Candel Stock Skyrockets on Promising Phase III Prostate Cancer Data
Candel’s trial was conducted under the FDA’s Special Protocol Assessment program, meaning that its data could be used as a basis for a regulatory application.
December 12, 2024
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3 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 CytoDyn Official Found Guilty of Securities Fraud
Former president and CEO of CytoDyn Nader Pourhassan along with Kazem Kazempour, former CEO of the CRO running CytoDyn’s trials, are awaiting sentencing but could face up to 20 years in prison for each count of securities and wire fraud and insider trading.
December 12, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Contemporary art collage of a hand holding scissors. Copy space for ad. Modern design.
Immunology and inflammation
Acelyrin Terminates Izokibep After Failed Phase IIb/III Uveitis Data
The discontinuation caps off a turbulent development path for izokibep, which in September 2023 produced disappointing results from Phase IIb/III study in hidradenitis suppurativa that was found to have had dosing errors.
December 11, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Businessman holding a dart aiming at the target - business targeting, aiming, focus concept. Art collage.
CAR-T
J&J, Legend Shrug Off Carvykti’s Challengers With New Phase III Data
With nearly 90% of patients showing no detectable cancer cells after treatment, J&J and Legend’s Carvykti could stave off competition from emerging CAR T therapies such as Gilead and Arcellx’s anito-cel.
December 11, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Sign outside BioNTech's building in Germany
Breast cancer
BioNTech Builds Case for PD-L1/VEGF Bispecific With Promising Breast Cancer Data
BNT327, now in early-phase trials, is part of a class of drugs that could one day challenge Keytruda’s dominance. BioNTech obtained the candidate when it bought Biotheus last month in an acquisition deal that could reach up to $950 million.
December 11, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Mental health, illness ,brain development ,medical treatment concept, messy lines of thinks in human head , vector illustration
Neurodegenerative disease
UniQure Clears Path to Accelerated Approval for Huntington’s Gene Therapy
In a Type B meeting, the FDA signified that it will allow uniQure to use a natural history control, the composite Unified Huntington’s Disease Rating Scale, and neurofilament light chain levels to support the accelerated approval of its gene therapy AMT-130.
December 10, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
GSK's headquarters office building in Poznan, Poland
Cancer
GSK Touts 42% Survival Benefit for Blenrep in Multiple Myeloma, Strengthening Bid for Market Return
The overall survival edge over J&J’s Darzalex will help GSK strengthen its case as it plots the market comeback of Blenrep, which was pulled after a failed confirmatory study.
December 10, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
A player checkmates the king, target in the background, chess game and strategy concept, vintage style poster
CAR-T
Gilead/Arcellx’s Anito-Cel’s Differentiated Safety Profile Challenges J&J/Legend’s Carvykti
Anito-cel has shown no signs of delayed neurotoxicity at around 9 months of follow-up, hinting at a safety profile that could set it apart from J&J and Legend’s Carvykti.
December 10, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: An Eli Lilly Research Laboratories sign/
Cancer
Lilly’s Strong Phase III Survival Data for Jaypirca Clouded by Deaths
According to Jake Van Naarden, president of Lilly Oncology, the excess deaths could be due to the high rate of crossover in BRUIN CLL-321.
December 10, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Merck Research Laboratories in South San Francisco, California
Lymphoma
Merck Touts 100% Complete Response Rate for Anti-ROR1 ADC as First-Line Lymphoma Treatment
Analysts called the data “very competitive” but raised questions about safety. Merck gained ownership of the ADC when it acquired VelosBio in November 2020 for $2.75 billion.
December 9, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Contemporary art collage of hand holding an arrow showing fall. Modern design. Copy space.
Obesity
BioAge Crashes After Axing Phase II Obesity Study
The discontinuation of STRIDES is a rare stumble for the next-generation obesity field and comes just weeks after Amgen announced underwhelming mid-stage data for MariTide.
December 9, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
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