FDA reshuffles drug and biologics leadership in latest shakeup

The US Food and Drug Administration on Friday rotated the directors of its drug-evaluation and biologics divisions, the latest in a series of personnel changes since former commissioner Marty Makary stepped down. The agency described the moves as part of a broader effort to streamline review timelines for new therapies and to manage the leadership transition in an orderly way.

The shuffle arrives at a moment when the FDA's recent decisions on weight-loss drugs, gene therapies and accelerated approvals are under close scrutiny. Industry trade groups acknowledged the changes in measured terms and urged the agency to preserve the scientific review standards built up under previous directors while permanent appointments are made.

Pharmaceutical and biotech shares moved on the news, with sector indexes lagging the broader market for the session. Analysts cited uncertainty over the pacing of late-stage drug approvals as a near-term overhang. The FDA said permanent successors to the affected positions would be announced in the coming weeks, with current officials continuing to handle day-to-day operations until then.