Prasad, a physician who was first appointed to the role in May, left the FDA on July 30 following pressure from Loomer and other political influencers. Prasad had faced backlash over the agency's handling of a gene therapy linked to the deaths of two teenagers and his decision not to approve certain drugs.

Dr. Vinay Prasad is back at the FDA less than two weeks after the White House pressed the head of the agency to remove him from his multiple agency leadership roles, an HHS spokesperson said Saturday.

Vinay Prasad is returning to his role overseeing vaccine, gene therapy and blood product regulation at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration a little more than a week after he left the agency. "At the FDA's request,