Eli Lilly has appointed Peter Marks, former director of the US Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Centre for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER), to lead its molecule discovery and infectious disease divisions.
Marks resigned from his position as CBER director in March, a role he had held since 2016. As the FDA’s chief vaccine regulator, he oversaw the evaluation and approval of biologics and played a key role during the COVID-19 pandemic. He helped establish Operation Warp Speed, the US government’s public-private partnership to accelerate vaccine development, although he departed the initiative shortly after its launch.
His resignation reportedly followed clashes with US secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F Kennedy Jr, who has been criticised for promoting anti-vaccine views.
At Lilly, Marks will serve as senior vice president of molecule discovery and head of infectious disease, effective this month.
In a statement, a company spokesperson said: “Lilly continually evaluates breakthrough science which could benefit patients. Peter’s expertise strengthens our abilities across multiple areas, both in our existing portfolio and in our work in emerging areas.”
Marks is the second high-profile FDA official to join Lilly this year. Rachael Anatol, formerly the agency’s deputy director before being placed on administrative leave in June, recently joined the company as associate vice president of global regulatory policy and strategy for genetic medicine.