Vinay Prasad steps down amid criticism over drug approval decisions and political views
Dr Vinay Prasad, a prominent Indian-American regulator at the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), has resigned just three months into his post, following a targeted campaign by right-wing voices, including social media influencer Laura Loomer, reported gujaratsamachar.com.
Reports from US media indicate that Prasad, who oversaw vaccine and gene therapy approvals, faced escalating criticism after the FDA initially restricted the use of Sarepta Therapeutics’ gene therapy drug Elevidys due to safety concerns. Although the agency later reversed that stance to allow limited use in lower-risk patients, Prasad remained under scrutiny.
Accusations of political bias and controversial drug approval decisions fuelled pressure on Prasad, leading to his early exit from the FDA
Fueling the controversy were resurfaced social media posts where Prasad expressed liberal political views, endorsed Senator Bernie Sanders, and joked about owning a Donald Trump “voodoo doll.” Critics alleged his political leanings could have influenced regulatory decisions — a claim Prasad has not publicly addressed.
Some conservative commentators labelled Prasad a “Bernie Sanders acolyte,” intensifying the pressure that ultimately led to his departure. His resignation has reignited the debate over how personal ideologies intersect with public health policy and drug regulation.
Who is Vinay Prasad?
Prasad served as the Director of the FDA’s Centre for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER) and its Chief Medical and Scientific Officer. He is also a haematologist-oncologist and professor at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), with over 500 academic publications and 14,000 citations.
He leads the VKPrasad Lab at UCSF, focusing on cancer research, clinical trials, and medical policy. Additionally, he hosts two podcasts and runs a popular YouTube channel, VinayPrasadMDMPH, with over 188,000 subscribers.
This is not the first time right-wing influencers have campaigned against Indian-origin professionals — Loomer previously opposed the appointment of Sriram Krishnan as an AI adviser to former President Donald Trump.
