Cancer doctor Sharpless to take reins at FDA next month

The director of the US National Cancer Institute, Norman “Ned” Sharpless has been announced as the acting FDA commissioner, following the shock resignation of incumbent Scott Gottlieb. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar made the announcement in a hearing before a House committee yesterday. Azar said that Sharpless will take over at the FDA when Gottlieb steps down early next month, after barely two years in charge of the regulator. While Sharpless is acting up as FDA commissioner, deputy director Douglas Lowy will take charge of the NCI, which is the US government’s principal agency for cancer research and training.
Sharpless will act up as commissioner while Azar’s department searches for a permanent successor to Gottlieb, who has decided to step down to spend more time with his family. Azar said that the search for the new commissioner will be completed “as quickly as possible”, and praised Gottlieb’s “incredibly successful tenure” at the FDA. Gottlieb was quick to offer his support to his successor, who was appointed to his role at the NCI by Trump.