FDA drug chief resigns amid probe and lawsuit

Dr. George Tidmarsh, head of the FDA drug division, resigned Sunday while on leave amid a federal inquiry into a complaint tied to his LinkedIn criticism of Aurinia’s lupus drug voclosporin and to allegations involving investor Kevin C. Tang. He says the probe retaliates for his objections to a new rapid drug-approval program he argues politicizes science. A lawsuit accuses him of extortion and vengeful acts; he denies it. An FDA spokeswoman said his resignation was accepted after serious concerns about his conduct, as upheaval continues under Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.