Controversial appointee rocks FDA like "an atom bomb," scientists there say
The Trump administration's elevation of a vaccine skeptic to lead a high-profile office within the Food and Drug Administration is raising alarm among multiple senior FDA officials, who told CBS News the appointment will harm the agency's reputation as a reliable steward of the nation's drug supply.
On Wednesday, Dr. Tracy Beth Høeg was tapped as acting director of the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, which is responsible for evaluating new drugs and ensuring adequate supplies of existing ones. Her appointment came after the abrupt resignation of Richard Pazdur, a veteran FDA scientist who took over the office just three weeks ago.
"Putting Tracy Beth in charge is like dropping an atom bomb," one agency source said, adding that multiple top-level officials are preparing resignations. "It's an extinction level event. Tracy Beth Høeg has never supervised a drug review, never has conducted a clinical trial. She doesn't understand laws and regulations."
A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services did not respond to questions about Høeg's qualifications. Høeg did not respond to a request for comment.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/controversial-appointee-rocks-fda-atom-163320289.html
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