Dr. George Tidmarsh Resigns As FDA’s Top Drug Regulator Amid Conduct Inquiry

Dr. George Tidmarsh, Head of the US Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, resigned two days after being placed on administrative leave over concerns about personal conduct, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) said.

Dr. Tidmarsh, appointed in July, was suspended after the Office of the General Counsel and the Office of Inspector General were alerted to serious concerns. The issue reportedly stemmed from a LinkedIn post in which he criticised the FDA’s 2021 approval of a lupus drug, leading to a drop in the manufacturer’s stock. In a statement to ‘The New York Times’, Dr. Tidmarsh said he was placed on leave after questioning the legality of a programme to expedite drug approvals. His resignation was effective immediately, with the HHS noting that Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. expects the highest ethical standards from agency leaders.