FDA Drug Center Chief Resigns Amid Ethics Probe and Lawsuit

Dr. George Tidmarsh, appointed in July 2025 as director of the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, resigned on Sunday amid an ethics investigation and a lawsuit alleging misconduct. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) placed Tidmarsh on administrative leave after being alerted to serious concerns about his personal conduct.

"Secretary Kennedy expects the highest ethical standards from all individuals serving under his leadership and remains committed to full transparency," said HHS press secretary Emily Hilliard.

The resignation coincides with a lawsuit filed by Aurinia Pharmaceuticals, accusing Tidmarsh of making false and defamatory statements about the company and its board chair, Kevin Tang. The lawsuit alleges that Tidmarsh used his FDA position to pursue a longstanding personal vendetta against Tang, who had previously been involved in Tidmarsh's removal from leadership positions at other pharmaceutical companies.

In September, Tidmarsh posted on LinkedIn that Aurinia's kidney drug had "not been shown to provide a direct clinical benefit for patients," leading to a 20% drop in the company's stock value. He later deleted the post, stating it was made in a personal capacity.

Tidmarsh's departure is the latest in a series of leadership changes at the FDA, including the resignation and subsequent return of Dr. Vinay Prasad, head of the FDA's vaccine and biologics center, earlier this year.

The FDA's drug center, which Tidmarsh oversaw, has experienced significant staff turnover, with over 1,000 employees leaving in the past year.