SUBSCRIBE
SUBSCRIBE
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.

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
 · 
2 min read
 · 
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
 · 
2 min read
 · 
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
 · 
2 min read
 · 
Tristan Manalac
Illustration of employer’s hand holding employee who was laid off to drop him out of office
Layoffs
Sage Sacks Entire Staff After Supernus Buyout
As of Apr. 22, Sage had 338 full-time employees, all of whom will be laid off effective Aug. 22. The layoffs were announced a few weeks after Maryland’s Supernus Pharmaceuticals acquired Sage for up to $795 million.
June 30, 2025
 · 
1 min read
 · 
Tristan Manalac
Facade of the FDA's office in Maryland
Approvals
Moderna, Merck, UroGen, Score RSV and Cancer Nods in June
The FDA delivered two notable approvals for RSV immunization, UroGen overcame a negative advisory committee vote to secure an approval in bladder cancer, and more key regulatory nods from the past month.
June 30, 2025
 · 
9 min read
 · 
Tristan Manalac
Wooden blocks with arrow and error icon. Delays and disruptions, stop the process, critical error concept
Neurodegenerative disease
Edgewise Takes a Hit as FDA Blocks Accelerated Path for Becker Muscular Dystrophy Drug
The FDA found that data from a single Phase II study were “insufficient” to justify an accelerated approval review for sevasemten in Becker muscular dystrophy.
June 27, 2025
 · 
2 min read
 · 
Tristan Manalac
Composite collage picture image of man slide down arrow recession statistics data weird freak bizarre unusual fantasy billboard comics.
MASH
Altimmune Nosedives on Mixed Mid-Stage MASH Data for GLP-1/Glucagon Drug
Altimmune’s pemvidutide failed to significantly improve fibrosis in MASH patients in a Phase IIb study. The biotech crashed 53% in the aftermath of the readout.
June 27, 2025
 · 
2 min read
 · 
Tristan Manalac
Creative sketch collage of business people handshake gesture approval project development success colleagues cooperation support.
Collaboration
Alphabet Subsidiary Calico Colors In Up To $570M+ Aging Deal With China’s Mabwell
Calico will leverage 9MW3811’s anti-inflammatory mechanism to advance its mission of addressing aging-related diseases.
June 27, 2025
 · 
2 min read
 · 
Tristan Manalac
Profile view, and Mental Illness
Depression
Alto Digs Into Exploratory Outcomes as Depression Drug Misses Phase II Endpoint
While ALTO-203 missed its depression-related endpoints, improvements in EEG biomarkers, attention and wakefulness point to signals of drug activity, William Blair said, though the analysts pointed to other indications as potentially more promising for future development.
June 27, 2025
 · 
2 min read
 · 
Tristan Manalac
Government
Trump’s CDC Pick Says Vaccines Are Safe, Promises To Keep Them Available
Susan Monarez, already acting director of the CDC, said during her confirmation hearing that she sees no causal link between vaccines and autism.
June 26, 2025
 · 
2 min read
 · 
Tristan Manalac
World heart day. Sketch style human heart. Retro halftone hands reaching out to each other. Modern collage. Valentines day banner. Healthcare medical concept. Healthy lifestyle.
Cardiovascular disease
Novartis Makes Potential $750M+ Bet Per Cardiovascular Disease Target in Another Flagship Pact
Flagship Pioneering’s ProFound Therapeutics will use its proprietary technology to mine the expanded proteome for novel cardiovascular therapeutics. Novartis has promised to pay up to $750 million per target, though it has not specified how many targets it will go after.
June 26, 2025
 · 
2 min read
 · 
Tristan Manalac
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. makes remarks at an event announcing the MAHA (Make America Healthy Again) Commission, Thursday, May 22, 2025, in the East Room of the White House. (Official White House Photo by Joyce N. Boghosian)
Vaccines
RFK Cuts U.S. Funding From Vaccine Alliance Gavi, Claims Group ‘Ignored the Science’
Without providing further context, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. says that Gavi needs to “start taking vaccine safety seriously” by considering “the best science available.”
June 26, 2025
 · 
2 min read
 · 
Tristan Manalac
FDA Headquarters_Grandbrothers/Adobe Stock
Policy
Former CBER Chief Marks Decries New FDA COVID-19 Framework
Peter Marks, who headed the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research before being forced to resign in March, said the agency’s new risk-based COVID-19 vaccine framework contradicts the current administration’s push for transparency and gold-standard science.
June 26, 2025
 · 
3 min read
 · 
Tristan Manalac
Illustration of two hands shaking while another hand gently grips a wrist
Collaboration
Sanofi, Gilead Deepen Protein Degrader Pipelines in Separate Deals With Kymera
Gilead is betting up to $750 million on Kymera’s anti-CDK2 molecular glue for solid tumors, while Sanofi elected to move forward with another protein degrader from the biotech, designed to target immune-mediated diseases.
June 25, 2025
 · 
2 min read
 · 
Tristan Manalac
Finding Talent. Big Hands with Magnifying Glass Recruiting People. vector
Duchenne muscular dystrophy
FDA Reviews Sarepta’s Elevidys After Second Patient Death
The FDA is assessing the need for “further regulatory action” on Sarepta’s Duchenne muscular dystrophy gene therapy in the aftermath of two patient deaths, though the regulator has not yet specified what action this could be.
June 25, 2025
 · 
2 min read
 · 
Tristan Manalac
Load More