Dr. Peter Marks, who formerly led the Food and Drug Administration’s oversight of vaccines, has joined the pharmaceutical firm Eli Lilly, the company told The Epoch Times on Oct. 7.
“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,” a spokesperson for the company told The Epoch Times via email.
Marks is the senior vice president of molecule discovery for Lilly, and the head of its infectious disease unit.
Lilly does not currently make any vaccines for the U.S. market.
Marks, who has a medical degree and a graduate degree in cell and molecular biology, was director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, which oversees vaccines, for years before resigning in April. Marks cited disagreements with Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Marks sped up the first COVID-19 vaccine approval because he wanted to enable vaccine mandates and have more people vaccinated, according to internal documents, prompting two other FDA vaccine officials to resign. Marks has said the officials were not moving fast enough in light of the pandemic situation.
Additional FDA officials have in the past joined pharmaceutical firms after leaving the FDA.
Patrizia Cavazzoni, who for years was head of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, left the FDA shortly before the start of President Donald Trump’s second term. She was hired by Pfizer in February.
Cavazzoni, who worked for Pfizer and other pharmaceutical firms such as Eli Lilly before being employed by the government, is Pfizer’s chief medical officer.
Dr. Doran Fink, who worked under Marks, accepted a job from Moderna in 2023, a few months after departing the regulatory agency.
Dr. Scott Gottlieb, the FDA’s commissioner during Trump’s first term, became a Pfizer board member in 2019.
Dr. Vinay Prasad, who now leads the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, wrote on X in 2024 that the so-called revolving door between the FDA and pharmaceutical companies “is why the agency works for pharmaceutical interests.”
Federal law bars former government employees from participating in matters that, to their knowledge, would have an impact on their or their employer’s financial interests. The FDA website lists that along with other guidance for former employees, including a prohibition against communicating with or appearing before the government regarding matters pending under the official responsibilities during their last year of service.