WashingtonAfter a brief tenure that angered biotech executives, patient advocacy organizations, and conservative allies of President Donald Trump, the Food and Drug Administration’s divisive vaccine chief is departing the organization.
A Department of Health and Human Services official stated late Tuesday that Dr. Vinay Prasad was leaving his position as the FDA’s top vaccine regulator to spend more time with his family and did not want to be a distraction.
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The Associated Press was informed by two people with knowledge of the matter that Prasad was fired in the wake of multiple recent scandals. The individuals discussed internal personnel issues while speaking on condition of anonymity. Requests for comment on Wednesday morning were not immediately answered by Prasad.
After years of working as an academic researcher at the University of California San Francisco, where he regularly questioned the FDA’s stance on COVID-19 vaccines and medication approvals, Prasad passed away in May.
His unconventional strategy seemed to align with FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, who frequently commended Prasad’s efforts and intelligence.
However, right-wing groups have been targeting Prasad in recent weeks, pointing to his previous remarks that criticized Trump and praised liberal independent Senator Bernie Sanders.
How did this Bernie Bro who despises Trump end up in the Trump administration? Last week, Loomer posted on X.
A day after Loomer expressed doubts about their allegiance, Trump fired them.
Prasad’s handling of a recent safety concern involving the sole authorized gene treatment for Duchenne’s muscular dystrophy also drew criticism.
He oversaw the therapy’s distribution after a string of patient deaths and after relatives of boys with the deadly muscle-wasting disease voiced their opposition.
Prasad has long had doubts about the medications used to treat muscular dystrophy that are marketed by Sarepta Therapeutics. Prasad rose to prominence as an academic by criticizing the FDA for having overly lax approval standards for cancer medications and other novel treatments.
Trump’s Republican backers, who typically advocate quicker approvals and unrestricted access to experimental therapies, disagree with that strategy. The initiative, which Trump signed into law during his first term, was primarily symbolic and garnered support from conservatives who wanted to provide dying patients with more access to experimental medications.
Last Monday, The Wall Street Journal’s editorial board and a columnist blasted Prasad for pausing Sarepta’s therapy.
Separately, three tiny biotech companies requesting permission for novel gene therapy received rejection letters from Prasad’s division this month.
Since those treatments have the potential to treat incurable illnesses that occasionally cause parents to end pregnancies, many of the anti-abortion organizations in Trump’s base have enthusiastically embraced them.
New gene treatments, which replace or alter a patient’s genetic code in order to treat or prevent disease, witnessed a sharp increase in approvals under Prasad’s predecessor in the position.
Prasad has been a vocal opponent of Marks’ tenure at the FDA, which included presiding over the first COVID vaccination and treatment approvals.
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The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Department of Science Education of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute provide support to the Associated Press Health and Science Department. All content is entirely the AP’s responsibility.
