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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.

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Immunology and inflammation
Late-Stage Stumble for Cosentyx Sets Novartis Back in Autoimmune Condition
Novartis is falling farther behind AbbVie, which expanded its JAK inhibitor Rinvoq into giant cell arteritis in April.
July 3, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Close-Up Of Syringe With Bottles Against Blue Background
RSV
Kennedy Follows RSV Recommendations of ACIP Members He Fired
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. endorsed the expanded use of RSV vaccines for people 50 through 59 years old who are at risk of severe disease.
July 3, 2025
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3 min read
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Tristan Manalac
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Accelerated approval
Regeneron Scores Multiple Myeloma Nod for Bispecific, Unlocking $600M Opportunity
While it trails Johnson & Johnson’s Tecvayli, Regeneron still hopes Lynozyfic can differentiate in terms of dosing convenience and efficacy.
July 3, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Megaphone with stethoscope isolated on orange background. 3d illustration
Women’s health
Biotech Leaders, Investors Ask FDA to Maintain Access to Mifepristone
An open letter signed by more than 50 industry executives blasts a “fundamentally, fatally flawed” report that urges greater restrictions on the abortion pill.
July 3, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Collage of gavel, safety cones and roadblock
Legal
Court Suspends Mass Layoffs at HHS, Rules Staff Cuts Likely Unlawful
As an office of the executive branch, the Department of Health and Human Services “does not have the authority” to implement sweeping changes to the structure of the agency as created by Congress, a judge wrote.
July 2, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Government
RFK Jr. Eyes Changes to Vaccine Injury Compensation Program
Kennedy wants to expand the injury compensation program to include COVID-19 vaccines, while also stretching the “statute of limitations” to more than three years.
July 2, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
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Regulatory
FDA Mulls ‘Regulatory Action’ on Argenx’s Vyvgart Hytrulo Over Severe Safety Concerns
The safety update for Vyvgart rattled argenx’s shares on Monday, a reaction that analysts at William Blair said was “overdone.”
July 2, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Hand holding a nasal spray bottle against a white background
Psychedelics
Beckley’s Psychedelic Nasal Spray Clears Phase II Depression Study
BPL-003 showed “robust” efficacy data in treatment-resistant depression, according to analysts from Jefferies, who noted that the asset could hit peak market sales of $1 billion. The results clear the way for the asset’s late-stage development and for the completion of a proposed merger with atai Life Sciences.
July 1, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
A contemporary artistic collage depicting a hand holding pills, passing them to another hand. The concept of medication and treatment.
Collaboration
Argenx Makes $1.5B+ Play for UNP’s Macrocyclic Peptides Aimed at ‘Undruggable’ Targets
Macrocyclic peptides are designed to engage complex targets like biologics but pass through cell membranes like small molecule drugs.
July 1, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
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Rare diseases
FDA Signs Off on Neurogene’s ‘Best-Case Scenario’ Pivotal Study Design for Rett Syndrome
The pivotal trial for Neurogene’s Rett syndrome gene therapy makes use of baseline controls and a rigorous endpoint that could help ensure a broader label for the drug product, if approved, according to analysts.
July 1, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Megaphone with stethoscope isolated on orange background. 3d illustration
Obesity
Protagonist Enters Obesity Fray With Triple-G Pill, Eyeing 2026 Clinical Start
With PN-477, Protagonist is directly going up against Eli Lilly, which is advancing retatrutide, also a triple-G agonist, in a Phase II trial.
July 1, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Wooden blocks with arrow and error icon. Delays and disruptions, stop the process, critical error concept
Lymphoma
Pfizer Ends Mid-Stage Trial for CD47 Blood Cancer Drug, Citing Recruitment Problems
Pfizer insists that the discontinuation of the Phase II study was due to recruitment difficulties and was not linked to maplirpacept’s safety or efficacy.
July 1, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Brain with pills, Alzheimer awareness day, dementia diagnosis, Parkinson disease, memory loss disorder, damaged mind
Alzheimer’s disease
INmune Crashes After Missing Cognitive Target in Phase II Alzheimer’s Trial
Digging into a prespecified analysis for the mid-stage study, INmune Bio identified some clinical and biological benefits of its TNF inhibitor in patients with early Alzheimer’s disease who have at least two biomarkers of inflammation.
June 30, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
A cartoon of a scientist standing in a laboratory, next to a microscope and flasks
Government
100+ CEOs, Biopharma Leaders Sound Alarm on ‘Catastrophic’ Health Cuts
In an open letter addressing the Trump administration’s proposed budget cuts to HHS, the executives urged Congress to continue “robust federal funding” for scientific research, which they say will help maintain U.S. biotech leadership globally.
June 30, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Cambridge, USA - 16 August 2024. View of Moderna office entrance with logo sign, Biotechnology industry
Influenza
Moderna’s Promised mRNA Flu Vaccine Bests Current Standard Shot
In adults 50 and older, Moderna’s flu shot was more than 26% better than an unspecified commercial vaccine. In May, the company pulled its application for a combo flu/COVID-19 shot, saying it would refile following data from this Phase III trial.
June 30, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
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