HHS has chosen Dr Vinay Prasad, a UCSF-based oncologist, as head of CBER - the biologics and vaccines division. The former head was Dr. Peter Marks. The FDA's commissioner, Marty Makary, announced Prasad's appointment in an email to staff.
https://www.cnn.com/2025/05/06/health/fda-vinay-prasad-vaccines
CNN writes, Prasad "became a harsh critic of the government’s response and its vaccine policies during the Covid-19 pandemic."
Reuters writes, "In a note to clients, RBC Capital Markets analyst Brian Abrahams called Prasad an "anti-establishment physician" who has been vocal on a broad range of matters, "including COVID-19, oncology studies, and randomized clinical trial designs in general."
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Asked for a neutral capsule bio, Chat GPT offered this:
Dr. Vinay Prasad, MD, MPH, is a hematologist-oncologist and professor at the University of California, San Francisco, where he leads research on cancer drugs, clinical trials, and health policy. He has authored over 500 academic articles and two books—Ending Medical Reversal and Malignant—and is known for his critical stance on aspects of medical evidence and regulatory practices. In May 2025, Dr. Prasad was appointed director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER), a role overseeing vaccines and biologic therapies.
His selection marks a departure from tradition, as the position is typically held by career FDA scientists. Dr. Prasad has previously expressed skepticism about accelerated drug approvals and COVID-19 vaccine mandates for young people, positions that have drawn both support and criticism. His appointment has been met with concern from some public health experts and has coincided with a drop in biotech stock prices, reflecting uncertainty about the FDA’s future regulatory approach under his leadership.
