Vinay Prasad has been reinstated as the head of the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration , just over a week after his unexpected resignation on July 30. The FDA requested his return, a move confirmed by a Health and Human Services spokesperson. Prasad, an oncologist known for his opposition to COVID-19 vaccine and mask mandates, was initially appointed by FDA Commissioner Marty Makary in May. His brief tenure was marked by controversy, particularly concerning the FDA's handling of Sarepta Therapeutics' gene therapy for Duchenne muscular dystrophy , which was linked to the deaths of two teenagers. The FDA temporarily halted and then partially resumed shipments of the therapy due to safety concerns. Prasad faced public criticism, including from political activists, and his return comes amid broader upheaval across health agencies under U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
In related health news, the United States has seen a significant increase in life expectancy, primarily due to declines in death rates from COVID-19, heart disease, and drug overdoses. Nearly 3.1 million Americans died last year, approximately 189,000 fewer than the previous year. Provisional data for 2024 also suggests fewer deaths, indicating another modest rise in life expectancy, which reached nearly 78.5 years in 2023. Despite these improvements, life expectancy has not yet returned to pre-pandemic levels and is expected to stall. COVID-19 has caused over 1.2 million deaths in the last five years, but vaccination efforts have reduced its impact, pushing it to the 10th leading cause of death. Heart disease remains the leading cause of death, while overdose deaths have decreased. Efforts to reduce new drug users could further prevent future overdoses.
Additionally, nearly one in three retail pharmacies in the U.S. closed over the past decade, disproportionately affecting communities of color and exacerbating health disparities. Independent pharmacies were more likely to shut down between 2010 and 2021 due to factors including inadequate Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements and the influence of pharmacy benefit managers . Policymakers are urged to increase Medicare reimbursement rates and impose PBM regulations to support at-risk pharmacies.
These developments underscore the complex challenges facing the U.S. healthcare system, highlighting the need for strategic interventions to address both leadership stability and systemic disparities.
