Biden's COVID-19 Advisory Board Bodes Well For Science-Driven FDA

Two prominent former US FDA officials are a part of the president-elect’s new COVID-19 advisory board. Biden’s emphasis on scientific independence, including a commitment to publicly release vaccine trial data, could help restore public confidence in the agency and coming COVID-19 vaccines.

11/07/2020, USA: Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden speaks as vice presidential nominee Sen. Kamala Harris listens at The Queen theater, in Wilmington. — President-elect Biden announced his COVID-19 advisory board 9 November • Source: Shutterstock

The composition of US President-elect Joe Biden’s COVID-19 advisory board announced 9 November is a positive sign that the Food and Drug Administration will be free from the political tinkering that often colored the pandemic response of President Donald Trump's administration, potentially beginning a reversal in recent trends of decreased public trust in the agency and future coronavirus vaccines, experts said.

Two prominent former agency leaders, David Kessler, who served as FDA commissioner under Republican President George HW Bush and Democratic...