Following considerable public outcry over potential conflicts of interest for government officials who are working on the Trump administration’s initiative to develop COVID-19 treatments and vaccines, Janet Woodcock is temporarily stepping down as director of the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER).

Woodcock will instead be working in the FDA’s Office of the Commissioner to oversee the therapeutics portion of Operation Warp Speed, Commissioner Stephen Hahn announced yesterday.

Hahn also announced that Peter Marks, director of the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER), who had been named to oversee the vaccine portion of Operation Warp Speed will instead focus his efforts within CBER.

Woodcock and Marks last week had recused themselves from involvement in agency decisions for coronavirus therapeutics and vaccines due to their roles in Operation Warp Speed (DID, May 20). — Jordan Williams