FDA Chaos: Drug Center Chief Abruptly OUT After Alleged ‘Vendetta’ Post Cost Drugmaker $350 Million
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Washington DC, The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been rocked by another abrupt leadership departure. Dr. George Tidmarsh, who had only been the head of the FDA’s crucial drug center since July, resigned on Sunday after federal officials initiated a review into “serious concerns about his personal conduct.”
Tidmarsh was placed on leave Friday after the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Office of General Counsel was notified of the issues, according to HHS press secretary Emily Hilliard. His resignation followed on Sunday morning.
“Secretary Kennedy expects the highest ethical standards from all individuals serving under his leadership and remains committed to full transparency,” Hilliard stated.
The Lawsuit Connection: “Longstanding Personal Vendetta”?
The drama escalated rapidly, as Tidmarsh’s departure coincided with a lawsuit filed by a drugmaker connected to one of his former business associates.
Aurinia Pharmaceuticals filed the suit, alleging that Tidmarsh used his powerful FDA position to pursue a “longstanding personal vendetta” against the company’s board chairman, Kevin Tang.
- Tang and Tidmarsh have a contentious history; Tang was reportedly involved in Tidmarsh’s ouster from executive roles at previous drugmakers, including La Jolla Pharmaceutical.
- The lawsuit claims Tidmarsh targeted Aurinia’s kidney drug with a highly unusual public statement on LinkedIn.
The Controversial LinkedIn Post and Stock Drop
In September, Tidmarsh drew significant attention when he made a public post on LinkedIn—a highly irregular move for an FDA regulator—stating that one of Aurinia Pharmaceutical’s products, a kidney drug, had “not been shown to provide a direct clinical benefit for patients.”
The fallout was immediate and severe:
- Aurinia’s stock dropped 20% shortly after the post.
- This single public statement allegedly wiped out over $350 million in shareholder value.
Tidmarsh later deleted the post, claiming he had published it in his personal capacity, not as an FDA official. The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court of Maryland, seeks significant compensatory and punitive damages and alleges further targeting of another company’s product where Tang is also board chair.
A Center in Crisis: Leadership Turmoil and Staff Exodus
Tidmarsh’s brief, controversial tenure marks the latest in a series of turbulent events at the FDA. The agency has been dealing with months of firings, departures, and controversial decisions on major public health issues.
The drug center he oversaw—the largest division responsible for the review, safety, and quality control of prescription and over-the-counter medicines—has faced massive internal strain. Agency figures indicate the center has lost over 1,000 staffers in the past year due to layoffs or resignations.
The FDA recruited Tidmarsh, a veteran of California’s pharmaceutical and biotech industries and former adjunct professor at Stanford, only this summer. His sudden exit further underscores the significant leadership volatility impacting the nation’s key drug oversight body at a critical time.
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