Within minutes of the announcement that FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, MD, was stepping down from his post, many people in healthcare and policy turned to Twitter to express their opinions on the departure. Below are a 10 industry reactions:
1. Eric Topol, MD, executive vice president at Scripps Research (La Jolla, Calif.)
"Very sad to see @SGottliebFDA stepping down, the most effective @US_FDA Commissioner in decades," the tweet read.
2. Steven Ubl, CEO of Pharmaceutical Research Manufacturers of America
"We congratulate @SGottliebFDA for his exemplary leadership at @US_FDA. He should be commended for his efforts to streamline the development & approval process of groundbreaking new treatments that are transforming the lives of patients & increasing competition in the market," his tweet read.
3. Seema Verma, CMS administrator
"@SGottliebFDA has been both a great leader as @US_FDA Commissioner and a wonderful friend! I’m honored and privileged to have had the opportunity to work alongside him and see all that he has accomplished," her tweet reads.
4. Paul Knoepfler, PhD, professor of cell biology at UC Davis School of Medicine (Sacramento, Calif.)
"Seriously bad news: Commissioner @SGottliebFDA leaving the FDA. Bad on many levels including re: #stemcell clinics," the tweet read.
5. Ashish Jha, MD, dean and professor of global strategy in the public health school at Harvard University (Cambridge, Mass.)
"Terrible news for public health @SGottliebFDA is resigning as head of @US_FDA. Scott has been a ray of sunshine — advocating for vaccines, smarter drug policy, more generics, tackling vaping and tobacco. Let's hope the next Commissioner is half as good," the tweet read.
6. President Donald Trump
"Scott Gottlieb, who has done an absolutely terrific job as Commissioner of the FDA, plans to leave government service sometime next month… Scott has helped us to lower drug prices, get a record number of generic drugs approved and onto the market, and so many other things. He and his talents will be greatly missed!," the president's tweet read.
7. Norman Sharpless, MD, director of the National Cancer Institute
"Scott has done a lot for cancer patients and all Americans. Bold leadership on tobacco control, generic drugs, novel biologics and so much more. I will miss working with you @SGottliebFDA," he tweeted.
8. Jerome Adams, MD, U.S. surgeon general
"Dr. Gottlieb (Scott) thanks for your tireless efforts to improve the health and safety of America! You will be missed, but the groundwork you laid means your efforts will continue on!" the tweet said.
9. Andrew Kolodny, MD, co-director of opioid policy research at the Heller School for Social Policy and Management (Waltham, Mass.)
"With regard to Gottlieb’s handling of opioids, I strongly disagree with President Trump. Gottlieb’s public comments on opioids were much better than his predecessors & he had some new ideas, but behind scenes little changed. 2) Despite endorsing a report calling for an overhaul of opioid policies - it never happened. Despite promising Congress he’d fix mistakes, he didn’t. And he allowed FDA to approve a new opioid 500 times stronger than heroin," the tweet read.
10. Stacie Dusetzina, PhD, health services researcher and associate professor at Vanderbilt University Medical Center (Nashville, Tenn.)
"This is so disappointing. @SGottliebFDA has been a real force at FDA, particularly trying to help increase generic entry. Also kept a good sense of humor in a tough job. Sorry to see him go."