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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.

Roche's tower in Shanghai, China
Deals
Roche Inks Potential $1.8B Deal With Flare to Target Transcription Factors in Cancer
With $70 million upfront and more than $1.8 billion on the line, Roche will gain access to Flare’s drug discovery engine to bolster its oncology pipeline.
November 12, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
June 10, 2020 Sunnyvale / CA / USA - The new 23andme headquarters in Silicon Valley; Based on a saliva sample, 23andMe provides reports about the customer's health, traits and ancestry
Layoffs
23andMe Cuts Headcount by 40%, Drops Drug Discovery Work
In line with the restructuring initiative, 23andMe is looking for strategic opportunities for its pipeline assets, including licensing deals or outright sales.
November 12, 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.
Gene therapy
Neurogene Shares Tank After Adverse Event Linked to Early-Stage Rett Syndrome Gene Therapy
Analysts did not seem very concerned by the treatment-related serious adverse event, noting that NGN-401 was well-tolerated at a lower dose and showed promising efficacy outcomes.
November 12, 2024
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3 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Contemporary art collage of hand holding an arrow showing fall. Modern design. Copy space.
Pipeline
RAPT Crashes After Axing Atopic Dermatitis, Asthma Hopeful, Cites Liver Injury
In February 2024, the FDA put two Phase II studies of zelnecirnon under a clinical hold after a case of liver failure was deemed potentially related to the drug.
November 11, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Rhinosinusitis, sinusitis concept image
Immunology and inflammation
AstraZeneca, Amgen Claim Late-Stage Win in Chronic Rhinosinusitis but Analyst Flags ‘Regulatory Risk’
The companies did not provide detailed data for Tezspire, however, and William Blair’s Matt Phipps said in a note he does not expect the antibody to outperform Dupixent.
November 11, 2024
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: GSK's headquarters in London
Policy
GSK Quits Trade Group BIO as Industry Faces Uncertain Political Future
GSK’s departure comes as the industry anticipates the incoming Trump administration and as it continues to grapple with the threat of the BIOSECURE Act and losses of legal challenges to the IRA’s drug price negotiation program.
November 11, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Brain shaped white jigsaw puzzle on blue background. Mental health and problems with memory.
Alzheimer’s disease
Eisai Cuts Fiscal 2024 Guidance for Biogen-Partnered Leqembi as Sales Disappoint Analysts
Leqembi’s sales continue to be underwhelming, according to analysts, who contend the companies’ Alzheimer’s disease therapy is being held back by barriers such as coverage, infusion centers and time to diagnosis.
November 8, 2024
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Tristan Manalac
Sign in front of Pfizer in Quebec, Canada
China
Pfizer Makes $1B Commitment in China to Boost Innovation, Targets Chinese Market
The five-year investment will go toward the construction of a new R&D facility in Beijing to develop innovative therapies and integrate the world’s second most populated country into the company’s global strategy.
November 8, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Facade of Moderna's building in Massachusetts
Earnings
Moderna Gets Better-Than-Expected Q3 COVID-19 Vaccine Sales, but RSV Shot Disappoints
While Moderna’s Spikevax beat Wall Street estimates in the third quarter, William Blair analyst Myles Minter in a Thursday note to investors said sales of the company’s respiratory syncytial virus vaccine mRESVIA was significantly lower than expected.
November 7, 2024
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3 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Whitchurch-Stouffville, On, Canada: - May 30, 2021: Teva Canada Ltd facility in Whitchurch-Stouffville, On, Canada. Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. is an Israeli pharmaceutical company.
Earnings
Teva Reports Strong Generics Demand in Q3, Expects Higher 2024 Revenue
Driven by copycat versions of Bristol Myers Squibb’s Revlimid and Novo Nordisk’s Victoza, Teva’s generics business was again a top-performer in the third quarter, with U.S. sales growing 30% and bringing in $1.1 billion in sales.
November 7, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Gilead sign at headquarters. FDA will reportedly authorize use of remdesivir developed by biopharmaceutical company Gilead Sciences for Covid-19 treatment - Foster City, California, USA - 2020
Earnings
Gilead Beats Q3 Expectations Fueled by HIV Drug Sales, Raises Full-Year Guidance
BMO Capital Markets analyst Evan Seigerman in a note to investors called Gilead’s third-quarter performance “consistent” and “steady,” while noting the company continues to demonstrate “reliable strength” in its human immunodeficiency virus business.
November 7, 2024
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3 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Facade of Novo Nordisk's office in Fremont, California
Earnings
Novo Misses Overall Q3 Revenue Despite Beating Wegovy Sales Forecast, Narrows 2024 Outlook
Novo Nordisk’s total revenue in the third quarter missed analysts’ expectations but sales of weight loss drug Wegovy exceeded the consensus forecast. Still, the Danish drugmaker narrowed its full-year guidance for revenue and operating profit.
November 6, 2024
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3 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Close-up of medical ampoule production line/iStock
Earnings
Catalent Misses Fiscal Q1 Revenue Expectations as Pressure Mounts on Novo Holdings’ $16.5B Buyout
The contract manufacturer fell short of Wall Street’s projections for its first quarter of fiscal 2025, which ended Sept. 30, 2024. The miss comes amid growing opposition to Novo Holdings’ proposed $16.5 billion acquisition of Catalent.
November 6, 2024
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3 min read
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Tristan Manalac
3D illustration of a T cell killing a cancer cell
CAR-T
Gilead, Arcellx Tout Best-in-Class Potential for CAR T Therapy in Multiple Myeloma
Truist Securities analyst Asthika Goonewardene in an investor note said data for anito-cel—particularly its safety profile—will help differentiate the CAR T therapy from Legend Biotech and J&J’s entrenched Carvykti in relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma.
November 6, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Facade of AstraZeneca's office in Shanghai, China
China
AstraZeneca’s Stock Price Takes a Hit as China Chief Investigated for Insurance Fraud
BMO Capital Markets analyst Etzer Darout in a note to investors said the insurance fraud probe represents a “headline risk” to AstraZeneca, but contends that the share selloff is “overdone” and likely a knee-jerk reaction by investors.
November 6, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
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