National Cancer Institute’s director named as acting FDA chief

The Trump administration has named Ned Sharpless, director of the National Cancer Institute (NCI), as the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) acting commissioner.

Sharpless’s appointment comes one week after Scott Gottlieb  announced his resignation as chief of the agency. He will take up the role in April, following Gottlieb’s departure, the US Department of Health and Human Services  confirmed on Tuesday, March 12.

“Change is good, but bittersweet. It is difficult for me to say goodbye to @theNCI family as I head to @FDA to serve as acting commissioner. Rest assured that our shared goals for patients and the public’s health will translate into my new duties,” said Sharpless in a  tweet.

As the 15th director of the NCI, the federal government's principal agency for cancer research and training, Sharpless was tasked with leading a team of approximately 3,500 people.

In a  tweet, Gottlieb said: “Ned is a friend to FDA, a great public health champion, a dedicated physician, and will be warmly welcomed into his new role. FDA will benefit greatly from his leadership.”

Doug Lowy, the deputy director at NCI, will take over as acting director of the institute.

Sharpless’s appointment was welcomed by cancer experts with Lisa Lacasse, president of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (a nonprofit and nonpartisan advocacy affiliate of the American Cancer Societ), saying that Sharpless has been a “strong ally in the fight against cancer”.

She added that it would be vital for Sharpless to advance and implement policies previously endorsed by Gottlieb which were aimed at curtailing the soaring rates of youth e-cigarette use.

Gottlieb’s departure raised questions about how the agency would regulate e-cigarettes post-resignation.

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