Who Is Houman Hemmati? Meet Trump’s Possible Pick to Lead the FDA’s Vaccine Regulation | Health News

Houman Hemmati – an ophthalmologist, biotech entrepreneur and frequent Fox News guest – could become the country’s next top regulator of vaccines and treatments for complex diseases, according to reporting by Endpoints News and people familiar with the matter.

Vinay Prasad currently leads the Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, but is expected to leave at the end of April. This would be the second time in less than a year that Prasad has departed from the agency following controversial decisions – condemned by former FDA commissioners – regarding the review of vaccinations and specialty drugs for rare diseases.

Growing concerns about the FDA’s direction continue to shake the pharmaceutical industry.

While the Department of Health and Human Services says there has been no decision about who will replace Prasad, FDA Commissioner Marty Makary is said to favor Hemmati – whose prior experience includes top medical positions at Optigo Biotherapeutics and Vyluma, developing eye drops and other treatments for eye diseases, and serving as an adjunct clinical assistant professor at the University of Southern California’s Keck School of Medicine.

In 2023, Hemmati publicly expressed skepticism about government spending on COVID-19 vaccines. He also praised Prasad and Makary last year when they limited FDA approval for updated COVID-19 shots to only specific groups, like older adults. And he supported HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s push for states to ban people from buying soda and candy with food stamps. He has also supported other Trump administration moves, including the push for regime change in Iran.

“For many people, the flu shot actually can be very beneficial,” he said on Fox News in January. “Why not go and consider that for those people who could potentially benefit from it.”