Trump's divisive FDA vaccine regulator self-destructs, will exit agency (again)

Here's something that caught my attention — Vinay Prasad, a controversial figure at the FDA, is once again leaving the agency. Beth Mole reports that FDA Commissioner Marty Makary announced Prasad’s departure in April, claiming he achieved a lot during his year there. But here’s where it gets interesting — Prasad’s tenure was riddled with mistakes. According to Beth, he shockingly overruled scientists to reject an mRNA vaccine, only to reverse that decision quickly. Then there was the bizarre move demanding extra trials for a Huntington’s gene therapy, which many saw as moving the goalposts. And get this — he publicly attacked the gene therapy maker, UniQure, creating a toxic work environment, as staff alleged. Now, as Beth notes, these self-destructive choices seem to have finally caught up with him. So what does this all mean? It’s a reminder that even powerful regulators aren’t immune to making reckless decisions — something to keep in mind as the FDA’s reputation hangs in the balance.