The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has appointed Vinay Prasad, a vocal critic of the agency and the pharmaceutical industry, as the new director of its Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER). In this role, Prasad will oversee regulations for biologic drugs, including vaccines, gene therapies, and blood products. He succeeds Peter Marks, who left the agency earlier this year. Analysts suggest that Prasad may raise the bar for drug approvals, requiring more robust clinical evidence. Prasad has previously expressed concerns about the inclusion of COVID-19 vaccines in the childhood immunization schedule due to a lack of randomized trial data for children. Despite his critical stance, Prasad is supported by some within the medical community for his expertise in evidence-based medicine. He joins the FDA from the University of California, San Francisco, bringing extensive experience in oncology and public health.
— new from Reuters
