Trump critic PIO resigns as chief of FDA vax arm

Washington: The US Food and Drug Administration’s polarising vaccine chief is leaving the agency after a brief tenure that drew the ire of biotech companies, patient groups and conservative allies of President Donald Trump.

Indian-origin Dr Vinay Prasad “did not want to be a distraction” and was stepping down from his role as the FDA’s top vaccine regulator “to spend more time with his family”, a spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services said.

Sources said Prasad was ousted following recent controversies. In recent weeks Prasad became a target of conservative activists who flagged Prasad’s past statements criticising Trump. Prasad also attracted scrutiny for his handling of a recent safety issue surrounding the only approved gene therapy for Duchenne’s muscular dystrophy.