Originally Published MX November/December 2005
BUSINESS NEWS
FDA's Crawford Resigns |
| Crawford |
 |
| von Eschenbach |
FDA Commissioner Lester M. Crawford, DVM, PhD, resigned his post suddenly on September 23, only two months after his final confirmation as permanent head of the agency. In his place, President Bush named Andrew C. von Eschenbach, MD, director of the National Cancer Institute, as acting FDA commissioner.
Few details were provided about the resignation, which was effective immediately. Numerous reports cited Crawford as telling his staff that, at age 67, it was simply time to step aside.
"At some level, it's obviously disappointing to lose stable leadership in the commissioner's office," says Stephen J. Ubl, president and CEO of industry association AdvaMed (Washington, DC). "But we're optimistic about the nomination of Dr. von Eschenbach."
Von Eschenbach is a nationally recognized urologic surgeon.
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