It is fair to say that far more individuals aside from the commissioner are instrumental as far as the drug review and approval process in the U.S., but Makary we expect will promote technology and innovation in a way that offers some reprieve for those that feared a department more aligned with different virtues.

The FDA is responsible for protecting the public health by ensuring the safety, efficacy, and security of human and veterinary drugs.

President-elect Donald Trump picks Johns Hopkins surgeon Marty Makary, who argued against pandemic lockdowns, to lead the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.