Woodcock, Marks to recuse themselves from FDA reviews of COVID-19 products

FDA center directors Janet Woodcock and Peter Marks will not participate in reviews of COVID-19 products after taking on leadership roles in Operation Warp Speed, FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn announced in an email to agency staff. Woodcock directs FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) and Marks directs the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER).

The email, sent Sunday morning, notes that on Friday “it was announced that our own Drs. Janet Woodcock and Peter Marks will be bringing their diverse experience to cross-government efforts to expedite the development and availability of therapeutics and vaccines to combat COVID-19 under the Operation Warp Speed Project.”...