Norman “Ned”Sharpless, director of the National Cancer Institute, is named acting FDA commissioner. (H. Darr Beiser/National Cancer Institute)National Cancer Institute Director Norman “Ned” Sharpless will become acting commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, succeeding Scott Gottlieb, who is leaving next month, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said Tuesday. Sharpless, 52, an accomplished researcher, oncologist and administrator, has been director of the cancer institute for about 18 months, earning good reviews from cancer advocates, patient groups and academic researchers. He has had a cordial relationship with Gottlieb, who supported his appointment to the FDA job. In his relatively short tenure at the cancer institute, Sharpless pushed for increased data sharing and analysis to develop new treatments for cancer.

Source: Washington Post March 12, 2019 16:32 UTC