Trump to Nominate Big Pharma Ally Scott Gottlieb to Lead FDA
On Friday, President Donald Trump announced his intention to nominate Scott Gottlieb to head up the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Gottlieb, 44, is a partner at a venture capitalist firm that focuses on healthcare investments. He has a long history with both the pharmaceutical and biotech industries.
Gottlieb has previous experience with the FDA dating back to the George W. Bush administration, having served as deputy commissioner for medical and scientific affairs. He has also served as a consultant or board member for various drug companies--including GlaxoSmithKline and Vertex Pharmaceuticals--reportedly earning nearly half a million dollars in payments from pharmaceutical companies between 2013 and 2015 alone.