Photo courtesy of the FDA
Dr. Scott Gottlieb, commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, is leaving the agency next month, an administration official familiar with the situation confirmed Tuesday.
This official said this has been in the works for several months. Gottlieb has been commuting weekly to Washington from his home in Connecticut and is leaving to spend more time with his family, the official said.
Gottlieb tweeted that he is "grateful for the opportunity to help lead this wonderful agency."
Alex Azar, secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, the FDA's parent agency, said in a statement Tuesday that Gottlieb "has been an exemplary public health leader, aggressive advocate for American patients, and passionate promoter of innovation."
