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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.

Facade of Novo Nordisk's office in Fremont, California
Business
Novo’s Q1 Revenue Grows 24%, Raises Guidance as Wegovy Sales Surge
Novo Nordisk on Thursday reported a jump in first-quarter 2024 revenue, driven by a more than 100% increase in sales of weight-loss drug Wegovy and the strong performance of type 2 diabetes medication Ozempic.
May 2, 2024
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Boehringer Ingelheim's office in California
FDA
FDA Approval Fuels Boehringer’s Biosimilar Challenge to AbbVie’s Humira
Boehringer Ingelheim on Wednesday won the FDA’s approval for a high-concentration and citrate-free version of its Humira biosimilar Cyltezo, targeting AbbVie’s blockbuster drug.
May 2, 2024
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Facade of Moderna's building in Massachusetts
Business
Moderna Walks Away from Potential $3B Gene Editing Deal with Metagenomi
Citing a strategic prioritization by Moderna, Metagenomi announced Wednesday that the partners have “mutually agreed” to terminate their gene editing agreement.
May 2, 2024
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Astellas Pharma US headquarters in Illinois
Business
Astellas Inks Second CAR-T Agreement with Poseida to Develop ‘Convertible’ Cancer Therapies
Astellas Pharma and Poseida Therapeutics have entered into a second CAR-T contract to develop novel and flexible allogeneic cell therapies in oncology.
May 2, 2024
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Pfizer's signage outside its office in Canada/iStock, JHVEPhoto
Business
Pfizer Beats Q1 Forecast Despite 20% Revenue Drop, Cuts Four Pipeline Programs
Despite being hit with a 20% sales decline due to a plunge in demand for its COVID-19 products, Pfizer on Wednesday reported $14.88 billion in revenue in the first quarter of 2024, exceeding analyst expectations.
May 1, 2024
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Entrance to the FTC's office in Washington, DC
Policy
FTC Targets ‘Junk’ Patents Including Novo’s Ozempic, GSK’s Trelegy Ellipta and Other Drugs
In a bid to improve competition in the industry, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission is challenging the patents of 20 different pharmaceutical products, disputing the accuracy and relevance of their patents.
May 1, 2024
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: FDA signage at its office in Washington, DC
FDA
Neurocrine Wins FDA Approval for ‘Sprinkle’ Formulation of Ingrezza for Huntington’s Disease Chorea
Neurocrine Biosciences on Tuesday won the FDA’s approval for a sprinkle capsule formulation of Ingrezza, providing a more convenient route of treatment for Huntington’s disease patients with trouble swallowing.
May 1, 2024
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Eli Lilly's headquarters in Indianapolis
Business
Lilly Touts 26% Q1 Revenue Growth on Strong Mounjaro Sales, Raises Full-Year Guidance by $2B
Thanks to strong sales of its blockbuster drugs Mounjaro and Zepbound, Eli Lilly on Tuesday reported nearly $8.77 billion in revenue in the first quarter of 2024, while raising its full-year revenue guidance by $2 billion.
April 30, 2024
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Pfizer's signage at its world headquarters in New York
FDA
Pfizer, Genmab’s ADC Tivdak Scores Full FDA Approval in Recurrent or Metastatic Cervical Cancer
Based on strong overall and progression-free survival data in its Phase III confirmatory study, Pfizer and Genmab’s antibody-drug conjugate Tivdak on Monday secured the FDA’s full approval for recurrent or metastatic cervical cancer that had progressed on or after chemotherapy.
April 30, 2024
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Tristan Manalac
AstraZeneca's sign on its office in California
Drug Development
AstraZeneca, Daiichi Sankyo Continue Earlier-Line Breast Cancer Push with Phase III Enhertu Win
AstraZeneca and Daiichi Sankyo’s antibody-drug conjugate Enhertu significantly improved progression-free survival in metastatic breast patients with low and ultralow HER2 expression levels who had received at least one line of systemic treatment.
April 30, 2024
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Johnson & Johnson Business Center in Switzerland
Business
J&J-Partnered Addex Fails Phase II Epilepsy Study, Mulls Future of Candidate
Johnson & Johnson and Addex Therapeutics’ epilepsy hopeful ADX71149 did not meet its primary endpoint of time to reach baseline seizure count in a mid-stage trial, as the partners look to determine the next steps for the program.
April 29, 2024
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Tristan Manalac
3D illustration of blood cells being produced in the bone marrow
Drug Development
Safety Concerns with MorphoSys’ Blood Cancer Drug Could Mar $2.9B Novartis Buy: STAT
Citing anonymous sources involved in a Phase III trial, STAT News reported Sunday that MorphoSys’ pelabresib may worsen the risk of progression to acute myeloid leukemia, potentially putting Novartis’ proposed $2.9 billion acquisition at risk.
April 29, 2024
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Deloitte's building in Canada/iStock, Re
Drug Development
Pharma R&D ROI Spikes in 2023 as ‘Breakthroughs’ Re-Energize Industry: Report
After a record low in 2022, the pharma industry in 2023 saw a surprise rebound in productivity following one of its slowest years on record, according to a report from audit firm Deloitte.
April 29, 2024
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Tristan Manalac
Pictured: Syringe drawing vaccine from a vial
Drug Development
Bavarian Nordic’s Mpox Vaccine Safe, Effective at Lower Doses: Study
A one-fifth dose of Bavarian Nordic’s mpox vaccine Jynneos can elicit a similar antibody response as its standard-dose regimen, according to findings presented Saturday at the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Global Congress.
April 29, 2024
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Tristan Manalac
Gilead's corporate headquarters in Silicon Valley
Business
Gilead Touts 5% Revenue Jump, Positions for 2024 Growth and Culls Pipeline
Gilead on Thursday reported revenue growth in the first quarter of 2024, driven by the strong sales of its HIV, cancer and liver diseases franchises, while culling a number of candidates.
April 26, 2024
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Tristan Manalac
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