Vinay Prasad, who was recently ousted as the top vaccine and gene therapy regulator at the US Food and Drug Administration, is returning to his role, the Department of Health and Human Services said Saturday.
Prasad is returning at the FDA’s request, HHS spokesperson Andrew Nixon said in a written statement. “Neither the White House nor HHS will allow the fake news media to distract from the critical work the FDA is carrying out under the Trump administration,” Nixon said.
Prasad will resume leadership of the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Nixon said. It’s unclear whether he will also retake two other roles he held at the agency as chief science officer and chief medical officer.
Prasad and Makary asked Sarepta last month to stop shipping Sarepta’s treatment for Duchenne muscular dystrophy, Elevidys, following three deaths that were linked to the company’s gene therapies. Sarepta initially refused, then relented, leading to an outcry that the agency had overstepped.
