FDA official resigns after pressure from White House, conservative criticism: reports

A senior Federal Drug Administration official responsible for a controversial pause of a muscular dystrophy gene therapy abruptly resigned after the incident, reportedly under pressure from the White House. 

The official, Dr. Vinay Prasad, who was the head of the FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, faced specific criticisms for his past support of progressive candidates and disagreements with signature Trump positions, like right-to-try and federal deregulation. 

The FDA’s initial decision to freeze distribution of the therapy, marketed as Elevidys, following at least three patient deaths potentially connected to the therapy, also raised alarms with advocates for muscular dystrophy patients and conservative allies of the administration, Just the News reported. 

“Dr. Prasad did not want to be a distraction to the great work of the FDA in the Trump administration and has decided to return to California and spend more time with his family,” a Department of Health and Human Services spokesperson told CNN. 

The outlet reported that Prasad was facing pressure from the White House following days of criticism from right-wing activist Laura Loomer. Prasad was also the subject of several editorial pieces that slammed his past support for progressive causes, medicine rationing, and more centrally controlled regulation in the pharmaceutical space.