A former Trump administration official overruled FDA scientists to reject a review of Moderna's mRNA flu vaccine, while other developments in the business and political spheres have also made headlines. According to reports from Stat News and The Wall Street Journal, Vinay Prasad, the top vaccine regulator at the Food and Drug Administration during the Trump administration, made the decision, overriding agency scientists who were prepared to review the vaccine.
The FDA scientists were ready to review the vaccine, and David Kaslow, a top career official who reviews vaccines, even wrote a memo objecting to Prasad's rejection, according to Stat News. The memo reportedly included a detailed explanation of why the review should proceed.
In other news, Kathy Ruemmler, the top lawyer at Goldman Sachs and former White House counsel to President Barack Obama, resigned Thursday after emails revealed a close relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. Ruemmler, who had held the position since 2020, described Epstein as an older brother in the correspondence and downplayed his sex crimes. She announced her resignation as Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel of Goldman Sachs, effective June 30, 2026, according to Fortune.
Meanwhile, Costco has emerged as a high-profile case study in the business world, defying a Trump administration directive on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs. While rivals like Target and Walmart have scaled back their DEI initiatives in response to political pressure, Costco has largely maintained its commitments, and its business is thriving, according to Fortune. The company's board and new chief executive, Ron Vachris, have repeatedly reaffirmed the warehouse chain's DEI commitments.
In the realm of public health, Jim O'Neill, the US deputy health secretary, has become a prominent figure. He oversees a department with a budget of over a trillion dollars and signed the decision memorandum on the US's new vaccine schedule, according to MIT Technology Review. O'Neill also described his plans to increase human healthspan through longevity-focused research supported by ARPA-H, a federal agency dedicated to biomedical breakthroughs.
These developments highlight the complex interplay of politics, business, and public health, with decisions made by individuals and organizations having far-reaching consequences.
Discussion
AI Experts & Community
Be the first to comment