Vinay Prasad, who recently took on the role of the FDA’s leading vaccine official and chief scientific officer, has stepped down from his position after less than three months, according to a report by The Hill on Wednesday.
His resignation follows a growing wave of criticism from conservative commentators and a heated dispute with a pharmaceutical company regarding a gene therapy developed for boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
“Dr. Prasad did not want to be a distraction to the great work of the FDA in the Trump administration and has decided to return to California and spend more time with his family,” a spokesperson from the Department of Health and Human Services stated. “We thank him for his service and the many important reforms he was able to achieve in his time at FDA.”
The department declined to provide further details regarding the reasoning behind Prasad’s departure or who would take his place.
Among his critics was conservative firebrand Laura Loomer, who denounced Prasad in recent commentary, labeling him as a “saboteur” and a “Trojan horse” threatening the goals of the “Make America Healthy Again” platform.
On her website, she alleged: “Far from being the reformist ally the Trump administration expected he may be, Prasad’s liberal ideology, outspoken anti-Trump rhetoric, and deliberate actions to obstruct the president’s deregulatory agenda make him a dangerous misfit in this critical position.”
Rick Santorum, a Republican and former senator from Pennsylvania, echoed this criticism on X, stating Prasad was “destroying @POTUS legacy for helping patients.”
In May, Prasad was appointed to lead the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, taking over from Peter Marks. Marks had stepped down in March after reported tensions with HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., according to The Hill.
Recently, Prasad’s unit at the FDA has been at odds with Sarepta Therapeutics over its gene therapy designed for patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. The agency halted both distribution and ongoing trials of the drug following the deaths of two individuals who had been treated with it.
Before joining the FDA, Prasad had publicly voiced skepticism about the agency’s original decision to authorize the treatment. Despite a lack of compelling proof that the therapy could halt or reverse the disease, the administration had granted fast-tracked approval for Elevidys two years ago. In doing so, Peter Marks had bypassed the judgment of multiple internal review groups that had advised against moving forward.
Earlier this week, the FDA partially backtracked, lifting its suspension of the therapy for patients who still retain the ability to walk.
{Matzav.com}
