Dr. Vinay Prasad Reinstated to FDA Position Following Brief Departure
Dr. Vinay Prasad, a prominent figure in the medical field, has resumed his influential role in vaccine, gene therapy, and blood product regulation within a major U.S. health agency, shortly after stepping down from the position.
A spokesperson from the Department of Health and Human Services confirmed that Dr. Prasad was asked to reclaim his leadership role at the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research.
Prasad's Previous Tenure
Dr. Prasad, a well-known oncologist, originally left his role at the end of July, following a brief tenure as the director of the center. His appointment to the position was made by the Commissioner of the health agency in May. During his time in this role, Dr. Prasad has been open about his critiques of U.S. Covid-19 vaccine and mask mandates.
However, his leadership was not without controversy. Several concerns were raised around the agency's handling of a gene therapy for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), developed by a notable therapeutics company. The approved therapy was implicated in the tragic death of two teenagers with advanced DMD. Following a third death related to a separate experimental gene therapy from the same company, the health agency requested a halt to all shipments of the approved DMD therapy, citing safety concerns.
Despite these concerns, the agency reversed its stance at the end of July, allowing the resumption of shipments to the primary patient group for the drug.
Public Controversy Surrounding Prasad
Among the critics of Dr. Prasad was Laura Loomer, a controversial figure with significant influence. She had accused Dr. Prasad of undermining the work of the agency. In the days leading up to Dr. Prasad's departure, Loomer released audio that misleadingly suggested Dr. Prasad was acting against the interests of a prominent political figure, which was proven to be taken out of context when the full audio was released.
Upon hearing news of Dr. Prasad's return, Loomer renewed her criticism in a social media post, vowing to expose officials within the health agency in the future.
Background of Dr. Vinay Prasad
Before joining the health agency, Dr. Prasad was a physician at the University of California, San Francisco. He has also served at the National Cancer Institute and the National Institutes of Health. His medical expertise and experience will once again be utilized as he resumes his leadership role at the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research.