Internal choices to be acting-chiefs for US FDA and CDC

The Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the two main federal watchdogs for public health in  the USA, have announced changes in leadership. Andrew von Eschenbach,  the FDA's Commissioner, had previously announced his departure from the  agency, and will be replaced on an acting basis by Frank Torti, a former  cancer researcher at Wake Forest University - and survivor of the  disease - who joined the FDA in April last year.

Windover Information's In Vivo blog reported last June that Dr Torti,  contrary to early rumors that he was only a stop-gap choice of FDA Chief  Scientist and senior deputy to Dr von Eschenbach, would make a  non-controversial choice to at least be an interim appointment. The  report added that the change would be likely regardless of which  candidate won the presidential election on November 4 last year.

Given that the new appointment was due to coincide with President-elect  Barack Obama's inauguration on January 20, Dr Torti's term as Acting  Commissioner could simply be to give time for a permanent choice. A drug  industry critic, Cleveland cardiologist Steve Nissen, is being touted as  a popular choice among those who would like a more activist FDA. Either  way, the permanent nomination will have to be confirmed by the US  Senate.