Dr. Vinay Prasad, head of the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER), which oversees vaccines and biotech drugs, is set to leave his position at the end of April, FDA Commissioner Marty Makary confirmed on Friday.
Prasad Exits FDA After Controversial Tenure
Prasad, who came to the FDA after leaving the University of California, San Francisco, had originally intended to remain at the agency for the full year of his leave from the university, Makary told The Wall Street Journal. His departure comes after the implementation of several new FDA policies, which were his primary focus.
Prasad's division at the FDA is responsible for evaluating a wide spectrum of treatments, including cancer drugs, gene therapies, and vaccines.
His tenure was marked by several controversial decisions, including regulatory reversals for rare-disease drugs and a refusal to consider a flu shot application from Moderna Inc. (NASDAQ:MRNA).
Prasad’s leadership has been a source of contention at the FDA, with reports of staff complaints regarding his management style. Despite this, he was rehired in August 2025 after being fired for his past support of liberal policies.
Stricter Vaccine Standards Stir Industry Debate
Prasad is leaving the FDA following a turbulent tenure that included several high-profile controversies.
His return to the FDA in August sparked a debate over the agency’s regulatory direction, given his history as a vocal critic of the biopharmaceutical industry and certain FDA approval pathways.
During his tenure as head of CBER, Prasad advocated for a more cautious and rigorous approach to vaccine policy, pushing stricter approval standards that cited reported child deaths from COVID shots and rattled the industry.
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Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
