Head of FDA suddenly resigns less than 2 years after taking the role

Head of FDA suddenly resigns: Cancer-surviving millionaire doctor, 46, ‘wants to spend more time with his wife and daughters in Connecticut’ less than 2 years after taking the role

  • Dr Scott Gottlieb, a cancer-surviving physician, took over the FDA in May 2017 
  • He commutes to Washington, DC from Connecticut but says he now wants to spend more time at home
  • He has a wife and three daughters, a nine-year-old and twin five-year-olds 
  • The news came as a shock to most: his main agenda (e-cigarettes) is still unfinished, and he is well-liked by the president and his colleagues 

The head of the US Food and Drug Administration has surprisingly resigned, giving a month’s notice.

Scott Gottlieb, who has flitted between government and Big Pharma, took the helm of the FDA in May 2017.

Despite being well-liked by President Trump, and having recently introduced a number of new initiatives and new staff, Dr Gottlieb today said he would not complete two years in the role.

The 46-year-old millionaire physician, who has survived Hodgkin’s lymphoma, said he wants to spend more time with his wife and three young daughters – a nine-year-old and twin five-year-olds – at their home in Connecticut, rather than constantly commuting to Washington, DC.  

Despite being well-liked by President Trump, and having recently introduced a number of new initiatives and new staff, Dr Scott Gottlieb today said he would not complete two years in the role

Despite holding a senior FDA role in the Bush administration, Dr Gottlieb’s appointment raised eyebrows due to his ties to the private sector. 

But those fears went largely unmet in Dr Gottlieb’s year-and-a-half in charge as he tabled aggressive plans against the sales of opioids and his signature issue: e-cigarettes. 

This morning, Dr Gottlieb addressed Congress about his vaping plan to drastically curb sales to teens, which is currently being reviewed by the White House’s budget office.

Hours later, news of his resignation emerged, reported first by the Washington Post on Tuesday afternoon. 

Donald Trump tweeted shortly after: 

‘Scott Gottlieb, who has done an absolutely terrific job as Commissioner of the FDA, plans to leave government service sometime next month. 

‘Scott has helped us to lower drug prices, get a record number of generic drugs approved and onto the market, and so many other things. He and his talents will be greatly missed!’

In his resignation letter, obtained by STAT News, Dr Gottlieb said:

‘Over the past 23 months, I’ve been privileged to work with an outstanding team at the Food and Drug Administration, and to collaborate with the professional staff on implementation of many meaningful incentives that have advanced the public health.

‘I’m fortunate for the opportunity that the President of the United States afforded me to lead this outstanding team, at this time, in this period of wonderful scientific advances.’ 

Richard Pazdur, director of oncology at the FDA, said in a glowing statement to the Wall Street Journal: ‘Commissioners come, and commissioners go, but Scott Gottlieb hands down has been the best.’ 

Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said in a statement: ‘He has been an exemplary public health leader, aggressive advocate for American patients, and passionate promoter of innovation. 

‘I will personally miss working with Scott on the important goals we share, and I know that is true for so many other members of the HHS family.

‘The public health of our country is better off for the work Scott and the entire FDA team have done over the last two years.’

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk