diff --git a/packages/readabilityjs/Readability.js b/packages/readabilityjs/Readability.js
index 5902ae973..5268ae574 100644
--- a/packages/readabilityjs/Readability.js
+++ b/packages/readabilityjs/Readability.js
@@ -3022,7 +3022,8 @@ Readability.prototype = {
     var textContent = articleContent.textContent;
     return {
       title: this._articleTitle,
-      byline: author,
+      // remove \n and extra spaces and trim the string
+      byline: author ? author.replace(/\n/g, ' ').replace(/\s+/g, ' ').trim() : null,
       dir: this._articleDir,
       content: this._serializer(articleContent),
       textContent: textContent,
diff --git a/packages/readabilityjs/test/test-pages/fiercepharma/expected-metadata.json b/packages/readabilityjs/test/test-pages/fiercepharma/expected-metadata.json
index 44d47041b..c15549daf 100644
--- a/packages/readabilityjs/test/test-pages/fiercepharma/expected-metadata.json
+++ b/packages/readabilityjs/test/test-pages/fiercepharma/expected-metadata.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "title": "Novavax, eyeing the COVID 'vaccine hesitant' and kids, unveils new education campaigns as Nuvaxovid nears US finish line",
-  "byline": " 03:23pm",
+  "byline": "03:23pm",
   "dir": null,
   "excerpt": "Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson were quickest off the mark in getting COVID vaccines into American arms, but Novavax is hoping to add another pandemic vaccine to the U.S. | Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson were quickest off the mark in getting COVID vaccines into American arms, but Novavax is hoping to add another pandemic vaccine to the U.S. mix soon—and it's pushing new campaigns to get the word out.",
   "siteName": "Fierce Pharma",