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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.

Washington, D.C., USA- January 13, 2020: FDA Sign at its headquarters in Washington DC. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or USFDA) is a federal agency of the USA.
Vaccines
FDA Vaccine Advisors To Meet for COVID-19 Vaccine Updates
The independent experts will meet on May 22 to discuss updates to the COVID-19 vaccine for the upcoming season.
May 8, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Hands protect to stop rectangle block dominos with others rectangle standing. Risk and crisis management concept.
Cancer
C4 Therapeutics Shelves BRAF Blocker, Goes All-In on Multiple Myeloma Drug
The Massachusetts biotech will focus its efforts and resources into cemsidomide, an oral drug candidate being trialed for multiple myeloma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
May 7, 2025
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1 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Novo Nordisk's logo on the facade of its building in Germany
Earnings
Novo Vows Smoother Market Waters for Wegovy—but Analysts Are Skeptical
The FDA in February formally declared the end of the semaglutide shortage, which Novo Nordisk expects will help improve the market position of Wegovy. But Eli Lilly’s Zepbound is quickly gaining ground, with sales just $300 million behind Wegovy in Q1.
May 7, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
3d rendering of a plastic jar with medical pills on a hand truck on blue background. Medicine and health. Bottles and containers. Healthcare industry.
Manufacturing
Amid Trump’s Trade War, Some Drugmakers Stockpile Products in U.S.
Imports of pharmaceutical products surged in March, most of which came from Ireland, historically one of the biggest exporters of medicines to the U.S.
May 7, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Brain shaped maze. Conceptual image of science and medicine. 3D illustration.
ALS
Lilly Deepens ALS Pipeline With $415M Alchemab Licensing Deal
The Alchemab deal will further strengthen Lilly’s early-stage pipeline for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, coming less than a year after the pharma licensed QurAlis’ antisense oligonucleotide to correct a specific protein alteration in ALS.
May 6, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Bristol Myers Squibb office in California
Manufacturing
BMS Pledges $40B Investment in US Despite Cost-Cutting Plans
In light of President Donald Trump’s impending pharma tariffs, several big companies have made massive manufacturing investments in the U.S., including Eli Lilly, Johnson & Johnson and Novartis. BMS is the latest to make a multibillion-dollar push.
May 6, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Robert F Kennedy Jr speaking at the White House
Legal
States Sue RFK Jr., Makary, Seeking To Block HHS Cuts
Twenty attorneys general allege that the recent workforce reduction at the Department of Health and Human Services is unlawful and could have potentially irreversible consequences.
May 6, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Fashionable halftone collage. Concept of analytics, business data, financial planning, investment,report. Trendy modern retro illustration. Vector illustration
Earnings
Vertex Shrugs Off Q1 Miss With ‘Strong’ Journavx Launch, Encouraging Pipeline Position
Vertex has recorded some 25,000 prescriptions for Journavx since its January approval and is in the process of getting big PBMs to cover the non-opioid pain drug.
May 6, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Sign outside BioNTech's building in Germany
Earnings
BioNTech’s Ambitious PD-L1/VEGF Plans Currently Rely on Chinese Manufacturing
BNT327, a PD-L1/VEGF therapy, is still currently being manufactured in China, but BioNTech is working to establish a diversified supply chain, executives said during the company’s Q1 investor call.
May 5, 2025
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3 min read
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Tristan Manalac
©Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated. All Rights Reserved.
Gene therapy
Vertex Abandons AAV as Gene Therapy Space Weathers Difficulties
The cell and gene therapy space in recent months has hit several speedbumps, including layoffs, dropped drugs and discontinued partnerships.
May 5, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Open white medication bottle tipped over with red capsules scattered on a plain background, highlighting modern healthcare and medication management.
GLP-1
Novo’s Wegovy Inches Closer to Becoming First FDA-Approved GLP-1 Weight-Loss Pill
The FDA accepted Novo Nordisk’s NDA for an oral formulation of Wegovy. The agency is expected to release its verdict on the drug in the fourth quarter of this year.
May 5, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
fire,business,laid off
Policy
FDA Rehires User Fee Negotiators After Mass Employee Layoffs: Reuters
The FDA’s user free programs account for just under half of the agency’s budget—money that could be imperiled by the recent staffing exodus.
May 5, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
A scientist with pill bottles in front of FDA headquarters
Regulatory
FDA Action Alert: GSK, Sanofi, Merck and More
On the FDA’s docket this month are two expansion bids, one for GSK’s asthma drug Nucala into COPD and another for Merck’s oral cancer drug for a pair of rare tumors.
May 5, 2025
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6 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Traffic sign: Right U-turn sign on cement pole beside the rural road with sunset or sunrise background, copy space.
Government
FDA to Rehire Some Travel Staff as Lapses Begin to Show: AP
Some 20 travel staff at the FDA, who made arrangements for the regulator’s inspectors, will be getting their jobs back, as per the Associated Press. Some food scientists involved in testing will also be reinstated.
May 2, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Geneva, Switzerland - November 16, 2024: Exterior view of the headquarters of the World Health Organization (WHO), the specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for global public health
Obesity
WHO Leaning Toward Adding Obesity Drugs for Adults to Essential Medicines List: Reuters
In an internal memo, the World Health Organization signaled its support for anti-obesity drugs like Wegovy and Zepbound, which the agency decided against listing in 2023, the last time the Essential Medicines list was updated.
May 2, 2025
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
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