FDA Vaccine Chief Under Trump Administration Resigns Again

Dr. Vinay Prasad, the vaccine chief at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), is leaving the agency again. This is his second departure in less than a year. He has faced criticism for decisions on vaccines and treatments for rare diseases.

FDA Commissioner Marty Makary informed staff in an email that Prasad will leave at the end of April. He will return to his academic position at the University of California, San Francisco. In July, Prasad stepped down briefly after disagreements with biotech leaders and patient groups but returned soon after.

Recently, Prasad faced strong criticism for his decisions as the FDA reviewed vaccines and gene therapies. Firms have complained that the FDA changed its mind on products that were previously approved. This has led to delays in their development.

One major issue involved a flu vaccine from Moderna. Initially, Prasad did not allow the FDA to review this vaccine. After Moderna challenged his decision, the FDA agreed to review it after an additional study. There was also a dispute with UniQure, a company developing a treatment for Huntington’s Disease, about the requirement for new trials.

Prasad’s time at the FDA has been marked by disagreements and new requirements for developing drugs. Critics are unsure about his approach to regulation.

How much do you know?

What position did Dr. Vinay Prasad hold at the FDA?

Director of Research

Vaccine Chief

Commissioner

Head of Drug Approval

How many times has Dr. Prasad left the FDA in less than a year?

One

Two

Three

Four

Which university will Dr. Prasad return to?

Stanford University

University of California, San Francisco

Harvard University

Johns Hopkins University

What company developed a flu vaccine that faced review delays?

Pfizer

Moderna

Johnson & Johnson

AstraZeneca

What type of disease treatment was involved in a dispute with UniQure?

Alzheimer's disease

Parkinson's disease

Huntington's disease

Multiple sclerosis

Who informed staff about Dr. Prasad's departure?

The President

FDA Commissioner Marty Makary

The Vice President

A government official

Dr. Prasad is leaving the FDA for the second time.

True False

Dr. Prasad faced no criticism during his time at the FDA.

True False

Dr. Prasad stepped down due to disagreements with biotech leaders.

True False

The FDA regularly approves requests without review.

True False

Dr. Prasad's decisions were always welcomed by firms in the industry.

True False

Prasad's time at the FDA was characterized by unanimous support for all his decisions.

True False

Dr. Vinay Prasad is leaving the FDA at the end of .

Dr. Prasad's departure is his second in less than .

He faced strong criticism for decisions regarding and gene therapies.

The dispute involved a treatment for disease.

Dr. Prasad did not initially allow the FDA to review a flu vaccine from .

Prasad has faced criticism for his approach to .

This question is required