Two top officials at the Food and Drug Administration have been removed from their posts after being escorted out of the agency. Nicole Verdun, director of cell and gene therapies, and her deputy Rachael Anatol were placed on administrative leave following a meeting recording obtained by STAT. The move comes amid controversy surrounding the regulation of gene therapies, particularly in rare diseases. Verdun worked closely with former head Peter Marks, who was ousted from the agency by the Trump administration for his handling of COVID-19 vaccines. His departure created a power vacuum that has now led to Verdun’s removal.
Source: https://www.statnews.com/2025/06/18/top-gene-therapy-regulator-forced-out-at-fda