FDA drug center chief Dr. George Tidmarsh resigned Sunday after being placed on leave amid a federal review of concerns about his personal conduct, an HHS press secretary said. His departure coincided with a lawsuit by Aurinia Pharmaceuticals accusing him of defamation and of using his post to pursue a personal vendetta against board chair Kevin Tang. Tidmarsh drew notice for a LinkedIn post criticizing an Aurinia kidney drug, which the company says triggered a 20% stock drop. The resignation comes as the FDA faces months of firings and departures and steep staff losses in its drug division.

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