Trump drove firing of FDA official
The criticism of Prasad's Elevidys decision added to Loomer's line of attacks. She called attention to his 2021 social media posts in which he called himself 'a political liberal' aligned with Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.). Loomer also linked on July 20 to his 2020 X post expressing support for then-candidate Joe Biden to win the presidential election that November.
'Prasad's policy positions are a direct affront to the conservative principles underpinning Trump's agenda,' Loomer wrote, listing his support for universal health care and abortion rights.
On July 28, Loomer posted a story quoting interviews in which Prasad expressed disdain for Trump, including an apparent joke about stabbing a voodoo doll of the president to 'curse' him .
Loomer could not be reached for comment on Prasad's departure.
Makary on Wednesday announced Dr. George Tidmarsh would take over as acting director of the FDA's biologics center — but more substantial changes could be on the horizon.
The Trump administration is weighing splitting the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research into two bodies: one focused on vaccine regulation and one on therapeutics, according to three of the people familiar with the discussions.
That could allow Kennedy to respond to anti-vaccine groups like Children's Health Defense, which has expressed concern he has not been as aggressive toward immunizations as they hoped. Under Prasad, the FDA approved Moderna's Covid-19 vaccine for kids aged 6 months through 11 years at increased risk for Covid-19. Prasad was also instrumental in developing the FDA's framework for approval of future Covid-19 booster shots.
'What matters is that a highly qualified scientist and public health expert quickly steps into this essential role at the FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research,' Mary Holland, CHD's president and CEO, said in a statement to POLITICO about Prasad's exit.
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