Crawford: Stepping aside.

FDA Commissioner Lester M. Crawford, DVM, PhD, resigned his post suddenly on September 23, only two months after his final confirmation as permanent head of the agency. In his place, President Bush named Andrew C. von Eschenbach, MD, director of the National Cancer Institute, as acting FDA commissioner.

Few details were provided surrounding the resignation, which was effective immediately. Numerous reports cited Crawford as telling his staff that, at age 67, it was simply time to step aside. His confirmation and tenure at FDA, however, were far from tranquil. Bush nominated Crawford to the top spot at the agency in March, but the confirmation was delayed for five months by a bipartisan group of congressional critics who questioned Crawford's leadership on a number of issues, including drug safety and approval, policy enforcement, agency staffing, and fiscal management. Crawford came under fire for FDA's allegedly slow response to drug-safety issues involving antiarthritis Cox-2 inhibitors such as Vioxx and Celebrex, antidepressants prescribed for children, and dietary supplements like ephedra.

Last month, Crawford indefinitely postponed nonprescription sales of Plan B—the so-called “morning after” emergency contraceptive drug. Subsequently, FDA's women's health chief resigned.

Grassley: Demanding new direction.