Top FDA Drug Regulator Leaves, Agency Cites Personal Conduct

The US Food and Drug Administration’s lead drug regulator George Tidmarsh resigned two days after being placed on administrative leave over personal conduct concerns, according to the US Department of Health and Human Services.

The resignation comes the same day Tidmarsh was sued for defamation by Aurinia Pharmaceuticals Inc., which accused him of harboring “a longstanding personal vendetta” against the company’s chairman. In late September, Tidmarsh published, then deleted a post on LinkedIn calling a lupus drug manufactured by Aurinia toxic that sent the drugmaker’s shares plummeting.