Stephen Hahn formally nominated as new FDA head

President Trump late Friday formally nominated Dr. Stephen Hahn to lead the FDA. Hahn, an oncologist and chief medical executive at MD Anderson Cancer Center, would succeed Ned Sharpless, who has been serving as acting commissioner of the agency since Scott Gottlieb resigned as FDA head in April. While the Senate considers Hahn’s nomination, Dr. Brett Giroir, a top deputy to health secretary Alex Azar, is expected to head the FDA on an acting basis. If confirmed, Hahn will be the fourth person to lead the regulatory agency in seven months. Trump’s decision to nominate Hahn bucks the advice of advocacy groups as well as a handful of former FDA commissioners who wanted Sharpless to stay on permanently — he is now expected to resume his role leading the National Cancer Institute.