Peter Marks to head infectious disease for Eli Lilly

Dr. Peter Marks, the former top vaccine regulator, has joined Eli Lilly, the drugmaker told media sources.

Starting this month, Marks will serve as Lilly’s senior vice president of molecule discovery and head of infectious disease.

Board certified in internal medicine, hematology and medical oncology, and a fellow of the American College of Physician, Marks joined the FDA in 2012 as deputy center director for CBER and became director in 2016. During his tenure at CBER, Marks was instrumental in carrying out Operation Warp Speed and facilitating access to safe and effective vaccines for COVID, RSV and mpox. He oversaw the approval 22 gene therapies, including the first gene therapy ever to be approved in the U.S.

Marks officially resigned as CBER director this past March, reportedly after he was called to the Department of Health and Human Services, helmed by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and told to choose between quitting or be fired, people familiar with the matter told several media outlets.

His resignation, effective April 5, was tendered via two-page letter. The letter included criticism of Kennedy’s ant-vaccine policies, with Marks warning that, “Undermining confidence in well-established vaccines that have met the high standards for quality, safety, and effectiveness that have been in place for decades at FDA is irresponsible, detrimental to public health, and a clear danger to our nation's health, safety and security.”

The move from public service to industry is a familiar one for FDA officials. Dr. Patrizia Cavazzoni revealed her departure as head of CDER, announced as a retirement, back in January, ahead of Donald Trump’s inauguration. A month later, she rejoined Pfizer as chief medical officer, executive vice president.