Overview
- HHS placed Dr. George Tidmarsh on administrative leave after notifying its general counsel and inspector general of serious concerns about his personal conduct, according to an agency spokeswoman.
- The Wall Street Journal, cited by Raw Story, reported that he resigned Sunday, while Tidmarsh told ABC News he is only considering stepping down and described the FDA environment as toxic.
- A Maryland lawsuit by Aurinia Pharmaceuticals accuses Tidmarsh of accepting bribes and defaming a former colleague, alleging more than $350 million in damages.
- The suit centers on a LinkedIn post in which Tidmarsh wrote that Aurinia’s drug voclosporin had not been shown to provide a direct clinical benefit, after which the company’s shares fell about 20%.
- Tidmarsh denies the allegations and says actions against him follow his objections to a tumor board–style review effort and his criticism of FDA chief medical and scientific officer Vinay Prasad, while HHS stressed expectations for high ethical standards under Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.