Trump’s ‘Warp Speed’ Initiative Could Fund 3 to 5 Large-Scale COVID Vaccine Trials

FDA’s Peter Marks and Janet Woodcock will be on the bridge for Operation Warp Speed; Moncef Slaoui says early clinical data on one vaccine candidate makes him confident that a few hundred million doses of a vaccine can be available by the end of the year.

Moncef Slaoui at White House press briefing
Former GSK vaccine chief Moncef Slaoui speaks at White House press briefing on 15 May 2020. NIAID's Anthony Fauci stands behind him wearing a mask. • Source: White House TV feed

President Trump has tapped two of the top officials in the US Food and Drug Administration – Peter Marks, director of the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, and Janet Woodcock, director of the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research – to take leading roles in his Operation Warp Speed initiative.

Read the full article – start your free trial today!

Join thousands of industry professionals who rely on Pink Sheet for daily insights

  • Start your 7-day free trial
  • Explore trusted news, analysis, and insights
  • Access comprehensive global coverage
  • Enjoy instant access – no credit card required

More from Vaccines

FDA Special Assistant Høeg’s Vaccine Concerns On Display At ACIP

 
• By 

Tracy Beth Høeg, who is reportedly re-examining Novavax’s COVID vaccine application, is the FDA rep at the CDC panel’s first meeting under the Trump Administration. She raised concerns about routine use of Jynneos for adolescents at risk of mpox and questioned how Moderna assessed efficacy of its COVID vaccines.

Kennedy’s Comments On Novavax Delay Scientifically, Legally Inaccurate, Experts Say

 

The HHS Secretary publicly acknowledged the unusual delay of Novavax's COVID-19 vaccine licensure, but his justification was neither scientifically accurate nor legally justifiable, experts said.

‘Highly Problematic’: Acting FDA Commissioner Paused Planned OK Of Novavax Shot

 

Former Acting FDA Commissioner Sara Brenner is said to have asked Tracy Beth Høeg, new special assistant to the commissioner, to help reexamine the application. Høeg’s position at the agency is raising concerns about the FDA's ongoing approach to vaccine regulation.

Updated: US FDA Commissioner Makary Was Sworn In, Knew Of Plan to Push Out Marks, Sources Say

 

FDA Commissioner Martin Makary was sworn in Friday and knew of the plan that ultimately lead to CBER director Peter Marks' resignation on 28 March.

More from Pink Sheet

African Medicines Agency Set To Launch With New Leader In April

 

The African Medicines Agency is to appoint a director general and become operational at the end of this month.

China Plans Clinical Data Protection By Product Category For First Time

 
• By 

After almost seven years, China’s NMPA has once again published draft measures for clinical trial data protection, opening these up to public comments. While specific protection periods by drug category are proposed, some clarifications are still needed.

FDA Reorganization Proposal A ‘Mindless Approach To Centralization,’ Woodcock Says

 
• By 

Plan to reorganize the agency into five offices was designed by someone who does not understand the FDA, former long-time agency official Janet Woodcock says. The proposal would eliminate highly specialized expertise in favor of “a big team of generalists,” former Principal Deputy Commissioner Joshua Sharfstein says.