Cyber-iconoclast Vinay Prasad named head of FDA’s CBER
Regulatory News

Cyber-iconoclast Vinay Prasad named head of FDA’s CBER
An oncologist, Prasad has criticized accelerated approval, next-gen sequencing, and targeted therapies

Vinay Prasad, a MAHA-aligned hematologist-oncologist with an avid cyber following, was named director of the FDA Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, where he will be responsible for the agency’s regulation of vaccines and biologics, including cell and gene therapies.
Scott Gottlieb, Mark McClellan warn of the major challenges created by planned reorganization of FDA
Cancer Policy

Scott Gottlieb, Mark McClellan warn of the major challenges created by planned reorganization of FDA

Two former FDA commissioners—Scott Gottlieb and Mark B. McClellan­—warned that the Trump administration’s proposal to restructure FDA by consolidating the different product centers that review drugs, biologics, animal health, tobacco, and medical devices into a single regulatory office would lead to major challenges.xxx:moreThe commentary by G
Makary vows to speed up drug approvals and end FDA’s “cozy” relationship with industry
Regulatory News

Makary vows to speed up drug approvals and end FDA’s “cozy” relationship with industry
Commissioner promises to protect scientific integrity while bringing in “fresh” MAHA ideas

In his first sit-down interview since beginning his role as FDA commissioner 17 days earlier, Marty Makary, a former Johns Hopkins surgeon and the only Trump pick for HHS whose confirmation received Democratic support, said he would speed up approvals for rare-disease treatments by reducing reliance on animal testing and shifting towards organoids and computational models. 
Drugs & Targets

FDA approves penpulimab-kcqx for non-keratinizing nasopharyngeal carcinoma

FDA approved penpulimab-kcqx with cisplatin or carboplatin and gemcitabine for the first-line treatment of adults with recurrent or metastatic non-keratinizing nasopharyngeal carcinoma. FDA also approved penpulimab-kcqx as a single agent for adults with metastatic non-keratinizing NPC with disease progression on or after platinum-based chemotherapy and at least one other prior line of therapy.