FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb to Resign
U.S. Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Scott Gottlieb is resigning, according to multiple reports released today. According to the Washington Post, he will officially leave his post in about a month.
It has been reported that Gottlieb’s resignation did not come at the request of the White House. Gottlieb did speak with President Donald Trump, who reportedly likes the Commissioner—despite some policy disagreements with the White House—and did not want him to resign. In March 2017, President Trump nominated Gottlieb for the post he is preparing to exit. At the time, his nomination drew strong criticism for his ties to the pharmaceutical and biotech industries. Still, Gottlieb was praised by industry executives for his strong science background coupled with plenty of management experience.
In his time as Commissioner—which began in May 2017—Gottlieb’s most notable accomplishments appear to be related to speeding up the approval times for generic drugs, limiting underage access to e-cigarettes, and his efforts to stop the current U.S. opioid epidemic.
Gottlieb previously served as deputy commissioner for medical and scientific affairs during the George W. Bush administration. Reportedly, the reason for Gottlieb’s resignation this time around is his desire to spend more time with his family.
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