Biden Picks Former FDA Commissioner David Kessler to Lead Operation Warp Speed

US President-elect Joe Biden announced a number of appointments to the incoming team handling the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including naming David Kessler as chief science officer. Mr. Kessler, who served as FDA commissioner between 1990 and 1997, will reportedly share oversight of Operation Warp Speed with Gustave Perna, who will continue as chief operating officer.

The news comes shortly after Operation Warp Speed’s chief adviser Moncef Slaoui resigned from the position, although he is set to stay on as a consultant to the incoming Biden administration. “We are in a race against time, and we need a comprehensive strategy to quickly contain this virus,” Biden remarked, adding “the individuals announced today will bolster the White House’s COVID-19 response team and play important roles in carrying out our rescue plan and vaccination program.”

Mr. Kessler has been an advisor to Biden on policy surrounding COVID-19 and has co-chaired the transition team’s coronavirus task force since November last year. “Kessler became a trusted adviser to the Biden campaign and to President-elect Biden at the beginning of the pandemic,” noted Anita Dunn, co-chair of the transition team. In his new role, Mr. Kessler’s responsibilities will cover manufacturing, distribution and the safety and efficacy of vaccines and therapeutics, whilst reports citing transition officials suggest that he will also spearhead an antiviral development program for the treatment of COVID-19.

Biden has previously called the current administration’s rollout of COVID-19 vaccines a “dismal failure,” with just over 11 million people immunized as of January 14, well below an earlier target of 20 million by the end of 2020. Meanwhile, Biden has vowed to vaccinate 100 million people in his first 100 days in office.

The appointment of Kessler comes after a recent report suggested that Janet Woodcock, the current director of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER), is a candidate to serve as interim commissioner of the agency in Biden’s incoming administration while candidates for the permanent position are assessed.