The FDA has appointed hematologist-oncologist Vinay Prasad, MD, to lead the agency’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, according to a May 6 NBC News report.
As the head of CBER, Dr. Prasad will oversee the regulation of biologics, such as vaccines, blood and blood products, cells, tissues and gene therapies.
The move comes after the March resignation of former CBER director Peter Marks, MD, PhD. In his resignation letter, Dr. Marks cited HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s views on vaccinations as a contributing factor to his stepping down.
“It has become clear that truth and transparency are not desired by the secretary, but rather he wishes subservient confirmation of his misinformation and lies,” Dr. Marks wrote in the letter, according to a March 28 NBC News report.
Dr. Prasad has previously been accused of spreading misinformation about COVID-19 vaccines. He said Dr. Marks “might be the worst FDA regulator in modern history,” after pediatric COVID-19 vaccine boosters were approved by the CBER in 2022, the May 6 NBC News report said.
