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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.

Sign outside BioNTech's building in Germany
Business
BioNTech Secures $145M to Boost mRNA Vaccine Capabilities in Africa
As BioNTech struggles to establish its footing in a post-pandemic world, the biotech has secured $145 million from the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations to expand its mRNA operations in Rwanda.
May 30, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: 3D illustration of the proteasome enzyme
Drug Development
Biohaven’s Phase I Data for Lead Protein Degrader Disappoints Investors
Despite Biohaven’s bispecific protein degrader cutting autoantibody IgG levels by up to 37% in an early-stage study, investors saw it as “below the high bar” of 60%, according to William Blair analysts.
May 30, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
FDA signage at its office in Maryland
FDA
Tris Pharma Gets FDA Approval for Non-Stimulant ADHD Medication
Tris Pharma on Wednesday secured the FDA’s green light for Onyda XR, the first liquid non-stimulant nighttime treatment for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in pediatric patients.
May 30, 2024
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1 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: A scientist with pill bottles in front of FDA headquarters/Taylor Tieden for BioSpace
FDA
FDA Action Alert: Lykos, GSK, BMS and More
In the next two weeks, the FDA is scheduled to decide on four drug applications and hold two highly anticipated advisory committee meetings.
May 30, 2024
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6 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Merck Research Laboratories in South San Francisco, California
Deals
Merck’s Potential $3B EyeBio Acquisition Puts Drugmaker Back in Ophthalmology
Merck on Wednesday announced a deal worth $3 billion to buy EyeBio and its first-in-class trispecific antibody Restoret, marking the pharma’s return to the ophthalmology space after nearly a decade.
May 29, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Doctor holding up a lung x-ray
Drug Development
Insmed Stock Surges After Brensocatib Aces Phase III Lung Disease Study
In a late-stage trial, Insmed’s small molecule DPP1 inhibitor cut yearly exacerbation rates by around 20% in bronchiectasis patients, according to topline data.
May 29, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Man prepares his GLP-1 receptor agonist injection
Drug Development
Obesity Market to Reach $150B as Demand Grows, Supply Stabilizes: Reuters
Driven by growing market demand and an improving supply chain, the global weight-loss drug market is expected to hit $150 billion in value by the early 2030s, according to analysts cited by Reuters.
May 29, 2024
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3 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Amgen's office in Tampa, Florida
FDA
Amgen Wins FDA Approval for First Biosimilar to AstraZeneca’s Soliris
Amgen on Tuesday secured the FDA’s green light for the first interchangeable biosimilar to AstraZeneca’s Soliris to treat two rare diseases: paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria and atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome.
May 29, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Boy in a wheelchair looking out the window
Drug Development
NS Pharma’s DMD Candidate Viltespo Fails Confirmatory Phase III Trial
NS Pharma, a subsidiary of Nippon Shinyaku, announced Monday that its Duchenne muscular dystrophy candidate Viltepso failed a late-stage confirmatory trial, showing no significant motor function improvements over placebo.
May 28, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Novo Nordisk's corporate headquarters in Denmark
Policy
Novo Nordisk’s Once-Weekly Insulin Loses FDA Adcomm Vote for Type 1 Diabetes
Flagging a risk of hypoglycemia, the FDA’s Endocrinologic and Metabolic Drugs Advisory Committee on Friday did not recommend the approval of Novo Nordisk’s once-weekly insulin icodec for type 1 diabetes.
May 28, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Facade of Novartis building in Switzerland
Drug Development
Novartis Eyes Rare Kidney Disease Approvals on Heels of Two Phase III Wins
With back-to-back victories in IgA nephropathy and C3 glomerulopathy, Novartis on Saturday said it is planning to make regulatory submissions for the rare kidney diseases this year.
May 28, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: 3D illustration of antibody-drug conjugates carrying toxic payloads
Drug Development
AstraZeneca, Daiichi Sankyo ADC Misses Endpoint in Phase III NSCLC Study
AstraZeneca and Daiichi Sankyo’s investigational antibody-drug conjugate Dato-DXd failed to significantly improve overall survival in non-small cell lung cancer patients versus docetaxel.
May 28, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Novo Nordisk's corporate headquarters in Denmark
Drug Development
Novo Nordisk’s Semaglutide Cuts Death Risk in Diabetics with CKD in Phase III Trial
Full data from the FLOW study show that Novo Nordisk’s top-selling GLP-1 receptor agonist semaglutide can significantly reduce the risk of death by 20% in diabetes patients with chronic kidney disease.
May 24, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: 3D illustration of a tumor and its microenvironment
Drug Development
ASCO24: Nimbus Plots Path for Next-Gen IO Therapies with Strong Early HPK1 Blocker Data
After selling off its oral TYK2 blocker to Takeda for $4 billion, Nimbus Therapeutics has posted strong early-stage data for its other clinical candidate, NDI-101150, in solid tumors.
May 24, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Regeneron logo on a light brown building
Drug Development
ASCO24: Regeneron’s Bispecific Antibody Falls Flat in Early Study
Phase I/II data for Regeneron Pharmaceuticals’ costimulatory bispecific antibody were disappointing, with only one complete response when used as a combination treatment with Libtayo for solid tumors.
May 24, 2024
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2 min read
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Tristan Manalac
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