Vinay Prasad, a top US FDA official who left the agency in late July after a relatively short period on the job only to return in August to his original position as director of the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, is now the agency’s chief medical and scientific officer as well.
The additional medical and scientific officer title was also given to Prasad in June, just a month after he first began his tenure at the agency.
In July, an HHS spokesman said Prasad’s original departure was so that he wouldn’t be a distraction to the agency. Prasad faced heat for the FDA’s handling of FDA’s handling of several deaths potentially linked to Sarepta Therapeutics’ (NASDAQ:SRPT) Duchenne muscular dystrophy treatment Elevidys. He also drew ire from public health experts when he overruled FDA staff by limiting the use of COVID-19 vaccines from Moderna (NASDAQ:MRNA) and Novavax (NASDAQ:NVAX).
According to Prasad’s FDA bio page, as chief medical and scientific officer, he “advises the FDA Commissioner and other senior officials on cross-cutting and emerging medical and scientific issues impacting regulatory science and public health. He provides strategic input and leadership on trans-center working groups and initiatives, ensuring scientific consistency and integration across FDA centers and builds partnerships with academic, governmental, and industry stakeholders.”