The FDA has named Katherine Szarama, PhD, acting director of the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, an agency spokesperson confirmed to Becker’s.
Dr. Szarama succeeds Vinay Prasad, MD, who left the agency at the end of April to return to the University of California, San Francisco. Dr. Prasad joined the agency in 2025 on a one-year sabbatical and led several initiatives, including a 2-to-1 trial requirement for drug approvals, a national priority review system and a new COVID-19 vaccine framework.
Dr. Szarama previously served as deputy director of CBER and joined the FDA late last year after roles at CMS, the Emerson…