The head of the Food and Drug Administration’s drug division abruptly resigned Sunday following an internal review into “serious concerns about his personal conduct,” according to a government spokesperson.
According to The Associated Press, Dr. George Tidmarsh, who took over the position in July, was placed on leave Friday after the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of General Counsel was alerted to the allegations. He then resigned Sunday morning, HHS press secretary Emily Hilliard said in an email.
“Secretary Kennedy expects the highest ethical standards from all individuals serving under his leadership and remains committed to full transparency,” Hilliard said.
The resignation coincided with the filing of a lawsuit by Aurinia Pharmaceuticals, which accuses Tidmarsh of making “false and defamatory statements” and using his FDA post to pursue a “longstanding personal vendetta” against Kevin Tang, the company’s board chair.
According to the complaint, Tang previously served on the boards of several drug companies where Tidmarsh had been an executive — including La Jolla Pharmaceutical — and was involved in his removal from leadership roles.
Neither Tidmarsh nor his attorney have commented on the allegations.
Tidmarsh, a longtime biotech executive and former Stanford University adjunct professor, was recruited to the FDA earlier this year after meeting with Commissioner Marty Makary. His departure marks the latest upheaval at the agency, which has faced a series of resignations, firings, and controversies over vaccines and drug approvals.
In September, Tidmarsh sparked backlash for a LinkedIn post claiming that an Aurinia kidney drug had “not been shown to provide a direct clinical benefit for patients” — a move considered highly irregular for an FDA official. The company’s stock plunged 20%, erasing more than $350 million in value, according to the lawsuit.
Tidmarsh later deleted the post and said he had written it in a personal capacity, not as an FDA representative.
Aurinia’s lawsuit also claims Tidmarsh used his FDA role to target another company’s thyroid medication — allegedly linked to Tang — and is seeking compensatory and punitive damages in U.S. District Court in Maryland “to set the record straight.”
The FDA’s drug center, which Tidmarsh led, has reportedly lost more than 1,000 staffers over the past year amid continued turnover and morale issues.
