Scott Gottlieb
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Scott Gottlieb (born June 11, 1972) is an American
physician A physician, medical practitioner (British English), medical doctor, or simply doctor is a health professional who practices medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring health through the Medical education, study, Med ...
and investor who previously served as the 23rd
commissioner A commissioner (commonly abbreviated as Comm'r) is, in principle, a member of a commission or an individual who has been given a commission (official charge or authority to do something). In practice, the title of commissioner has evolved to incl ...
of the
Food and Drug Administration The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA or US FDA) is a List of United States federal agencies, federal agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Health and Human Services. The FDA is respo ...
(FDA) from May 2017 until April 2019. He is presently a senior fellow at the conservative
think tank A think tank, or public policy institute, is a research institute that performs research and advocacy concerning topics such as social policy, political strategy, economics, military, technology, and culture. Most think tanks are non-governme ...
the
American Enterprise Institute The American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research, known simply as the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), is a center-right think tank based in Washington, D.C., that researches government, politics, economics, and social welfare ...
(AEI), a partner at the venture capital firm
New Enterprise Associates New Enterprise Associates (NEA) is an American-based venture capital firm. NEA focuses investment stages ranging from seed stage through growth stage across an array of industry sectors. With over $25 billion in committed capital, NEA is one of t ...
(NEA), and a member of the board of directors of drug maker Pfizer, Inc and gene sequencing company Illumina, Inc. Gottlieb is a contributor to cable financial news network
CNBC CNBC is an American List of business news channels, business news channel owned by the NBCUniversal News Group, a unit of Comcast's NBCUniversal. The network broadcasts live business news and analysis programming during the morning, Day ...
and the
CBS News CBS News is the news division of the American television and radio broadcaster CBS. It is headquartered in New York City. CBS News television programs include ''CBS Evening News'', ''CBS Mornings'', news magazine programs ''CBS News Sunday Morn ...
program ''
Face the Nation ''Face the Nation'' is a weekly news and Sunday morning talk show, morning public affairs program airing Sundays on the CBS radio and Television broadcasting, television network. Created by Frank Stanton (executive), Frank Stanton in 1954, ''Fa ...
.'' An elected member of the
National Academy of Medicine The National Academy of Medicine (NAM), known as the Institute of Medicine (IoM) until 2015, is an American nonprofit, non-governmental organization. The National Academy of Medicine is a part of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineerin ...
, he is the author of ''The New York Times'' best selling book ''Uncontrolled Spread'' on the
COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic (also known as the coronavirus pandemic and COVID pandemic), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), began with an disease outbreak, outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, in December ...
and the national security vulnerabilities that it revealed. His forthcoming book, ''The Miracle Century: Making Sense of the Cell Therapy Revolution'', traces the scientific achievements that propelled progress in cell therapies. Before becoming FDA Commissioner, he was a Clinical Assistant Professor at New York University Grossman School of Medicine, the FDA's Deputy Commissioner for Medical and Scientific Affairs, a venture partner with
New Enterprise Associates New Enterprise Associates (NEA) is an American-based venture capital firm. NEA focuses investment stages ranging from seed stage through growth stage across an array of industry sectors. With over $25 billion in committed capital, NEA is one of t ...
(NEA) from 2007 to 2017, a member of the policy board of the
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS), a 501(c)(3) charitable organization founded in 1949, is a voluntary health organization dedicated to fighting blood cancer world-wide. LLS funds blood cancer research on cures for leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin ...
, a senior official at the
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is a federal agency within the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that administers the Medicare program and works in partnership with state governments to administer M ...
and a member of the Federal Health Information Technology Policy Committee, which advises the
United States Department of Health and Human Services The United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is a cabinet-level executive branch department of the US federal government created to protect the health of the US people and providing essential human services. Its motto is ...
on healthcare information technology. He was previously a resident fellow at AEI from 2007 to 2017, prior to joining the FDA as Commissioner in May 2017.


Early life and education

Gottlieb grew up in
East Brunswick, New Jersey East Brunswick is a Township (New Jersey), township in Middlesex County, New Jersey, Middlesex County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The suburban bedroom community is part of the New York metropolitan area and is located on the southern sho ...
, the son of Stanley, who was a psychiatrist, and Marsha Gottlieb, who was a schoolteacher. His family is Jewish. He is a graduate of East Brunswick High School and received his bachelor's degree in economics from
Wesleyan University Wesleyan University ( ) is a Private university, private liberal arts college, liberal arts university in Middletown, Connecticut, United States. It was founded in 1831 as a Men's colleges in the United States, men's college under the Methodi ...
. After completing his undergraduate education, he worked as a healthcare analyst at the investment bank Alex. Brown & Sons in Baltimore. Gottlieb attended medical school at
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (ISMMS or Mount Sinai), formerly the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, is a private medical school in New York City, New York, United States. The school is the academic teaching arm of the Mount Sina ...
and completed his residency in
internal medicine Internal medicine, also known as general medicine in Commonwealth nations, is a medical specialty for medical doctors focused on the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases in adults. Its namesake stems from "treatment of diseases of ...
at the Mount Sinai Hospital. ].


Career


FDA and CMS (2003–2007)

Gottlieb worked for the U.S.
Food and Drug Administration The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA or US FDA) is a List of United States federal agencies, federal agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Health and Human Services. The FDA is respo ...
(FDA) from 2002 to 2003 and 2005 to 2007. He first served as a senior advisor to the FDA Commissioner and then as the FDA's Director of Medical Policy Development from 2002 to 2003. He helped initiate the FDA's
generic drug A generic drug is a pharmaceutical drug that contains the same chemical substance as a drug that was originally protected by chemical patents. Generic drugs are allowed for sale after the patents on the original drugs expire. Because the active ch ...
user fee program and the Physician Labeling Rule. He worked on development of the FDA's policies related to the tentative approval of fixed-dose
combination drug A combination drug is a combination of two or more pharmaceutical drugs as active ingredients combined into a single dosage form, typically as a ''fixed-dose combination'', with each constituent standardized to specifications of a fixed dose. Fix ...
s for the treatment of
HIV/AIDS The HIV, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a retrovirus that attacks the immune system. Without treatment, it can lead to a spectrum of conditions including acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). It is a Preventive healthcare, pr ...
under the PEPFAR program. He left the FDA in the spring of 2003 to become a senior advisor to the Administrator of the
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is a federal agency within the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that administers the Medicare program and works in partnership with state governments to administer M ...
(CMS), where he worked on implementation of the
Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act The Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act, also called the Medicare Modernization Act or MMA, is a federal law of the United States, enacted in 2003. It produced the largest overhaul of Medicare in the public health pro ...
(MMA), with its new Part D drug benefit, and helped advance the agency's coverage policies related to new medical technology. He returned to the FDA from 2005 to 2007 as the agency's Deputy Commissioner for Medical and Scientific Affairs, where he was appointed to the
Senior Executive Service The Senior Executive Service (SES) is a position classification in the United States federal civil service equivalent to general officer or flag officer rank in the U.S. Armed Forces. It was created in 1979 when the Civil Service Reform Act of ...
and granted a top secret security clearance. He was a member of the Biodefense Interagency Working Group to help draft a strategic plan for U.S.
biodefense Biodefense refers to measures to counter biological agent, biological threats, reduce biological risks, and prepare for, respond to, and recover from bioincidents, whether naturally occurring, accidental, or deliberate in origin and whether impa ...
countermeasures. He also worked on advancing a framework for the creation of a generic drug user fee program, final implementation of the physician labelling and pregnancy labelling rules, and pandemic preparedness. In that latter role, Gottlieb recused himself from parts of the planning effort on a bird flu vaccine in 2005, because he had done consulting work for GSK, whose products might be used.


Private sector (2007–2017)

Gottlieb practiced internal medicine as an attending physician at
New York University New York University (NYU) is a private university, private research university in New York City, New York, United States. Chartered in 1831 by the New York State Legislature, NYU was founded in 1832 by Albert Gallatin as a Nondenominational ...
's Tisch Hospital in New York City. In 2007, Gottlieb became a venture partner at
New Enterprise Associates New Enterprise Associates (NEA) is an American-based venture capital firm. NEA focuses investment stages ranging from seed stage through growth stage across an array of industry sectors. With over $25 billion in committed capital, NEA is one of t ...
(NEA), the world's largest
venture capital Venture capital (VC) is a form of private equity financing provided by firms or funds to start-up company, startup, early-stage, and emerging companies, that have been deemed to have high growth potential or that have demonstrated high growth in ...
firm by
assets under management In finance, assets under management (AUM), sometimes called fund under management, refers to the total market value of all financial assets that a financial institution—such as a mutual fund, venture capital firm, or depository institutio ...
. Gottlieb served as an active investing partner in the firm's healthcare division. He served on the boards of directors of several NEA portfolio companies, including Bravo Health (a Medicare Advantage health plan) and American Pathology Partners (a specialized anatomical
pathology Pathology is the study of disease. The word ''pathology'' also refers to the study of disease in general, incorporating a wide range of biology research fields and medical practices. However, when used in the context of modern medical treatme ...
service provider). Gottlieb remained at NEA from 2007 until his appointment to be FDA Commissioner in May 2017. Prior to becoming FDA Commissioner, Gottlieb testified about 20 times before committees of the
United States House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives is a chamber of the Bicameralism, bicameral United States Congress; it is the lower house, with the U.S. Senate being the upper house. Together, the House and Senate have the authority under Artic ...
and the
United States Senate The United States Senate is a chamber of the Bicameralism, bicameral United States Congress; it is the upper house, with the United States House of Representatives, U.S. House of Representatives being the lower house. Together, the Senate and ...
on issues related to FDA regulation and drug competition,Gottlieb, Scott
"EpiPen Price Increases: How Regulatory Barriers Inhibit Pharmaceutical Competition"
Statement before the Senate Committee on Health, Education Labor and Pensions: Subcommittee on Children and Families via AEI, October 7, 2016.
drug shortages, Medicare reimbursement and healthcare reform and medical innovation. During congressional investigations of the rise of the price of
EpiPen An epinephrine autoinjector (or adrenaline autoinjector, also known by the trademark EpiPen) is a medical device for injecting a measured dose or doses of Epinephrine (medication), epinephrine (adrenaline) by means of autoinjector technology. It ...
, Gottlieb presented testimony arguing that the
generic drug A generic drug is a pharmaceutical drug that contains the same chemical substance as a drug that was originally protected by chemical patents. Generic drugs are allowed for sale after the patents on the original drugs expire. Because the active ch ...
industry is burdened by regulation that slows the development and review of new generic drug applications. These regulations, he argued, made it especially hard to bring forward generic equivalents of complex drugs, including hard-to-formulate medicines and drugs coupled to a device delivery system—a category of medicines that includes
EpiPen An epinephrine autoinjector (or adrenaline autoinjector, also known by the trademark EpiPen) is a medical device for injecting a measured dose or doses of Epinephrine (medication), epinephrine (adrenaline) by means of autoinjector technology. It ...
. He argued that such excessive regulations "undermine the competitive opportunities that could help inspire more choice and competition, and help lower costs." Gottlieb was an independent director at Tolero Pharmaceuticals and Daiichi Sankyo Inc. and a member of
GlaxoSmithKline GSK plc (an acronym from its former name GlaxoSmithKline plc) is a British Multinational corporation, multinational Pharmaceutics, pharmaceutical and biotechnology company with headquarters in London. It was established in 2000 by a Mergers an ...
's product investment board, which made decisions on which drugs GSK would take forward in development. He was a senior healthcare advisor to BDO and also a partner at a
merchant bank A merchant bank is historically a bank dealing in commercial loans and investment. In modern British usage, it is the same as an investment bank. Merchant banks were the first modern banks and evolved from medieval merchants who traded in comm ...
with a focus on healthcare. In 2015, he served on the board one of the investment firm's portfolio companies that was a provider of vaping products, Kure Corp. During this time, Gottlieb was a regular contributor to the Wall Street Journal editorial page and published a regular feature in
Forbes ''Forbes'' () is an American business magazine founded by B. C. Forbes in 1917. It has been owned by the Hong Kong–based investment group Integrated Whale Media Investments since 2014. Its chairman and editor-in-chief is Steve Forbes. The co ...
related to healthcare and medical innovation, and he served on the editorial board of the Food and Drug Law Institute's publication entitled ''Food and Drug Policy Forum'' that "provides for the exchange of ideas and recommendations on state, national, and international food and drug law and policy issues" and serves as a forum for discussion of regulatory policy in the food, drug, and medical device industry.


FDA commissioner (2017–2019)

Starting in summer 2016, Gottlieb worked as an advisor to
Donald Trump Donald John Trump (born June 14, 1946) is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who is the 47th president of the United States. A member of the Republican Party (United States), Republican Party, he served as the 45 ...
's presidential campaign, and then as a member of his transition team. He previously advised the 2016 presidential campaign of Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker. He was nominated as FDA Commissioner in March 2017. In advance of confirmation, Gottlieb expressed his intention to recuse himself "for one year from any agency decisions involving about 20 health care companies he worked with" under an
ethics Ethics is the philosophy, philosophical study of Morality, moral phenomena. Also called moral philosophy, it investigates Normativity, normative questions about what people ought to do or which behavior is morally right. Its main branches inclu ...
agreement, including such companies as Vertex Pharmaceuticals, GSK,
Bristol Myers Squibb The Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Trade name, doing business as Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS), is an American multinational pharmaceutical company. Headquartered in Princeton, New Jersey, BMS is one of the world's largest pharmaceutical companies ...
, and
New Enterprise Associates New Enterprise Associates (NEA) is an American-based venture capital firm. NEA focuses investment stages ranging from seed stage through growth stage across an array of industry sectors. With over $25 billion in committed capital, NEA is one of t ...
.Adams, Ben
"Gottlieb confirmation as FDA commissioner warmly welcomed by biopharma"
''
FierceBiotech MidOcean Partners is a New York based alternative asset management firm that specializes in mid-sized private equity and alternative leveraged investments. The firm, founded in February 2003, is based in Midtown Manhattan. MidOcean was original ...
'', May 10, 2017. Retrieved May 10, 2017.
''
Politico ''Politico'' (stylized in all caps), known originally as ''The Politico'', is an American political digital newspaper company founded by American banker and media executive Robert Allbritton in 2007. It covers politics and policy in the Unit ...
'' reported that Gottlieb was "expected to push the boundaries of FDA reviews and using new authority" to streamline approvals using the
21st Century Cures Act The 21st Century Cures Act is a United States law enacted by the 114th United States Congress in December 2016 and then signed into law on December 13, 2016. It authorized $6.3 billion in funding, mostly for the National Institutes of Health. The ...
. He testified before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. There, Gottlieb equated the spread of
opioid Opioids are a class of Drug, drugs that derive from, or mimic, natural substances found in the Papaver somniferum, opium poppy plant. Opioids work on opioid receptors in the brain and other organs to produce a variety of morphine-like effects, ...
addiction with earlier epidemics of
Ebola Ebola, also known as Ebola virus disease (EVD) and Ebola hemorrhagic fever (EHF), is a viral hemorrhagic fever in humans and other primates, caused by ebolaviruses. Symptoms typically start anywhere between two days and three weeks after in ...
and
Zika Zika fever, also known as Zika virus disease or simply Zika, is an infectious disease caused by the Zika virus. Most cases have no symptoms, but when present they are usually mild and can resemble dengue fever. Symptoms may include fever, conju ...
. Supporting the nominee and addressing the
opioid crisis The opioid epidemic, also referred to as the opioid crisis, is the rapid increase in the overuse, misuse or abuse, and Drug overdose, overdose deaths attributed either in part or in whole to the class of drugs called opiates or opioids since th ...
on the Senate floor before the confirmation vote, Majority Leader
Mitch McConnell Addison Mitchell McConnell III (; born February 20, 1942) is an American politician and attorney serving as the senior United States senator from Kentucky, a seat he has held since 1985. McConnell is in his seventh Senate term and is the long ...
said in part, "I'm sure he'll be an ally to states that continue to struggle" with the crisis "because the FDA has a critical role to play." On May 9, 2017, he was confirmed by the Senate by a vote of 57–42, and he was sworn in on May 11, 2017. As Commissioner, Gottlieb displayed "a collaborative management style, seeming to allay the concerns of some career employees who had balked at his industry ties," according to ''
The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...
''. While Commissioner, Gottlieb testified before Congress 19 times. On June 8, 2017, Gottlieb requested the market withdrawal of the
opioid Opioids are a class of Drug, drugs that derive from, or mimic, natural substances found in the Papaver somniferum, opium poppy plant. Opioids work on opioid receptors in the brain and other organs to produce a variety of morphine-like effects, ...
Opana ER, based on a risk associated with the illicit use of the product when the drug was inappropriately reformulated for abuse through injection. It was the first time the FDA sought to withdraw a product based on a risk associated entirely with the illicit use of a medical product. FDA later sought, and received, authority that Gottlieb and requested from Congress to be able to require the market withdrawal of opioid drugs when the agency had safety concerns that arose as a result of the illicit use of opioid drugs. On July 28, 2017, Gottlieb delayed application deadlines on new
tobacco products Tobacco is the agricultural product of the leaves of plants in the genus ''Nicotiana'', commonly termed ''tobacco plants''. All species of ''Nicotiana'' contain the addictive drug nicotine—a psychostimulant alkaloid found in all parts of t ...
, including premium
cigars A cigar is a rolled bundle of dried and fermented tobacco leaves made to be smoked. Cigars are produced in a variety of sizes and shapes. Since the 20th century, almost all cigars are made of three distinct components: the filler, the binde ...
and
electronic cigarette An electronic cigarette (e-cigarette), or vape, is a device that simulates smoking. It consists of an atomizer, a power source such as a battery, and a container such as a cartridge or tank. Instead of smoke, the user inhales vapor. As such ...
s, to provide sufficient time to finalize regulations on how those products would be regulated by the FDA, and at the same time, announced that the FDA would take steps to regulate
nicotine Nicotine is a natural product, naturally produced alkaloid in the nightshade family of plants (most predominantly in tobacco and ''Duboisia hopwoodii'') and is widely used recreational drug use, recreationally as a stimulant and anxiolytic. As ...
levels in combustible cigarettes to render the combustible cigarettes "minimally or non-addictive," and to regulate flavored tobacco products, including
menthol cigarettes A menthol cigarette is a cigarette infused with the compound menthol which imparts a “minty” flavor to the smoke. Menthol also decreases irritant sensations from nicotine by desensitizing receptors, making smoking feel less harsh compared to r ...
. The announcement caused shares of tobacco company
Altria Altria Group, Inc. (previously known as Philip Morris Companies, Inc. until 2003) is an American corporation and one of the world's largest producers and marketers of tobacco, cigarettes, and medical products in the treatment of illnesses ca ...
that day to initially decline by 19%. Gottlieb approved the first
gene therapy Gene therapy is Health technology, medical technology that aims to produce a therapeutic effect through the manipulation of gene expression or through altering the biological properties of living cells. The first attempt at modifying human DNA ...
product in the U.S. on August 30, 2017, the drug tisagenlecleucel ( KYMRIAH, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp.) for the treatment of patients up to age 25 years with B-cell precursor
acute lymphoblastic leukemia Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a cancer of the Lymphocyte, lymphoid line of blood cells characterized by the development of large numbers of lymphoblast, immature lymphocytes. Symptoms may include feeling tired, pale skin color, fever, ...
(ALL) that is refractory or in second or later relapse. In December 2017, Gottlieb unveiled a policy to step up FDA's oversight of
homeopathic Homeopathy or homoeopathy is a pseudoscientific system of alternative medicine. It was conceived in 1796 by the German physician Samuel Hahnemann. Its practitioners, called homeopaths or homeopathic physicians, believe that a substance tha ...
drugs, which had previously gone largely unregulated. At the same time, the FDA issued a series of warning letters seeking to remove certain unsafe and violative homeopathic products from the market. In March 2018, the FDA, under Gottlieb, initiated a rule to lower the amount of
nicotine Nicotine is a natural product, naturally produced alkaloid in the nightshade family of plants (most predominantly in tobacco and ''Duboisia hopwoodii'') and is widely used recreational drug use, recreationally as a stimulant and anxiolytic. As ...
in cigarettes to make them less addictive—in "an unprecedented move by the agency… It's the boldest move yet against cigarette makers by the FDA, which only obtained permission to regulate tobacco products in 2009." In August 2017, Gottlieb announced an initiative to accelerate the development of cell based therapies while also taking actions to crack down on what he called "unscrupulous" actors who were marketing unregulated stem cell therapy products that had caused some patients harm. Many of the companies that the FDA cited had been performing
liposuction Liposuction, or simply lipo, is a type of fat-removal procedure used in plastic surgery. Evidence does not support an effect on weight beyond a couple of months and does not appear to affect obesity-related problems. In the United States, lip ...
to remove fat from patients, isolating stem cells and then injecting those cells back into the same patients to treat various ailments. In May 2018, Gottlieb asked federal courts on opposite sides of the country to permanently stop two stem cell companies from operating after reports of patients being blinded by their treatments and released new guidelines on how the FDA would set enforcement priorities. Gottlieb also announced an initiative to accelerate development of FDA regulated cell and gene therapies in anticipation of a surge of new applications for commercial products. Among other things, Gottlieb said the FDA would add 50 additional reviewers to its staff, and issue new guidance documents that would lay out the pathway for development of different kinds of products such as gene therapies for inherited blood disorders and neurodegenerative diseases. In 2019, Gottlieb estimated that, by 2025, the FDA would be approving 10–20 cell and gene therapy products a year based on an assessment of the current pipeline and the clinical success rates of these products; a prediction that largely bore true. In September 2018, citing an epidemic of use of
electronic cigarettes An electronic cigarette (e-cigarette), or vape, is a device that simulates smoking. It consists of an Construction of electronic cigarettes#Atomizer and tank, atomizer, a power source such as a battery, and a container such as a cartridge or ...
by teenagers, Gottlieb announced that the FDA would seek to ban flavors in e-cigs as a way to reduce their appeal to youth. On November 8, 2018, it was reported that the FDA was "expected to announce a ban on the sale of most flavored e-cigarettes in tens of thousands of convenience stores and gas stations across the country", according to senior agency officials, and "the agency will also impose such rules as age-verification requirements for online sales." The reports noted that "Gottlieb also is expected to propose banning menthol in regular cigarettes. The agency has been collecting public comments on such a prohibition, which is a major goal of the public health community but is likely to be strongly opposed by the cigarette industry." It was also reported that Gottlieb would seek to ban flavors in cigars. Gottlieb stated, "I will not allow a generation of children to become addicted to nicotine through e-cigarettes." with ''
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'' editorializing that the new rules "represent an extraordinary step in the fight against nicotine addiction, one that, if successful, would become one of the nation's greatest public-health victories." That policy was formally unveiled in March 2019. Gottlieb also called into question the motives behind the decision by Altria to take a minority stake in
Juul Juul Labs, Inc. (, stylized as JUUL Labs) is an American electronic cigarette company headquartered in San Francisco. Its flagship product is the Juul electronic cigarette, which Construction of electronic cigarettes, atomizes nicotine salts d ...
and accused the manufacturer of reneging on commitments and representations it had made to FDA. Gottlieb pursued policies to address barriers to the approval of complex generic drugs, including generic, functionally equivalent alternatives to
EpiPen An epinephrine autoinjector (or adrenaline autoinjector, also known by the trademark EpiPen) is a medical device for injecting a measured dose or doses of Epinephrine (medication), epinephrine (adrenaline) by means of autoinjector technology. It ...
. Under his leadership, in August 2018, the FDA approved the first generic competitor of EpiPen, and later, in January 2019, the agency approved a generic competitor to the
asthma Asthma is a common long-term inflammatory disease of the airways of the lungs. It is characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction, and easily triggered bronchospasms. Symptoms include episodes of wh ...
drug Advair. Of the agency's more than 1,000 generic approvals in 2018, about 14 percent were for "complex generic drugs," or drugs that are particularly difficult to "genericize." In November 2018, the FDA implemented a new framework, in collaboration with the Department of Defense, to expedite the development of medical products intended to support American soldiers on the battlefield. Gottlieb had fought to maintain FDA control over the review and approval of medical products intended to support the war fighter after the Pentagon had sought to acquire that authority for itself as part of the
National Defense Authorization Act The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) is any of a series of United States federal laws specifying the annual budget and expenditures of the U.S. Department of Defense. The first NDAA was passed in 1961. The U.S. Congress oversees the de ...
. "I'm fully committed to trying to expedite products for the war fighter, and ... if they pass the language that has been put forward — the alternative language — we will commit to very quickly putting in place the implementing guidance to stand up that process," Gottlieb said as the Pentagon's version of the provision was moving through the House and the Senate. Ultimately, the compromise was to retain the authority with the FDA but for the FDA to commit to offer products intended for the battlefield a higher priority of review, reflecting the compromise provision that Gottlieb had put forward. The episode exposed an unusual "turf war" that pitted Gottlieb and the FDA against Pentagon officials and "puts on public display an internal rift within the administration and in Republican congressional ranks." Gottlieb advanced initiatives on addressing
drug pricing Medication costs, also known as drug costs are a common health care cost for many people and health care systems. Prescription costs are the costs to the end consumer. Medication costs are influenced by multiple factors such as patents, stakeholde ...
, "in ways that the agency hasn't done before." In December 2018, Gottlieb announced a plan to transition the biologicals currently regulated as drugs, including insulin, to be regulated under the Public Health Services Act as a way to open up these drugs to competition from lower cost
biosimilars A biosimilar (also known as follow-on biologic or subsequent entry biologic) is a biologic medical product that is almost an identical copy of an original product that is manufactured by a different company. Biosimilars are officially approved v ...
. He also committed to make fighting opioid addiction one of his highest priorities as Commissioner. He announced that the FDA would pursue a comparative approval standard for new opioids seeking to come to market, arguing that new opioid painkillers should show advantages over existing opioid drugs to win FDA approval. He undertook a series of new steps to rationalize prescribing as a way to reduce exposure to opioid drugs in order to cut the rate of new addiction. Under Gottlieb's leadership, "The FDA stirred up a hornet's nest with an unprecedented request to
Endo International Endo International plc is an American Irish-domiciled generics and specialty branded pharmaceutical company that generated over 93% of its 2017 sales from the U.S. healthcare system. While Endo's management, operations, and customers are almost e ...
to remove voluntarily its opioid pain medication, a tamper-resistant reformulation of Opana ER (oxymorphone hydrochloride), from the market." In February 2019, Gottlieb took action to curtail the marketing of 17
dietary supplement A dietary supplement is a manufactured product intended to supplement a person's diet by taking a pill (pharmacy), pill, capsule (pharmacy), capsule, tablet (pharmacy), tablet, powder, or liquid. A supplement can provide nutrients eithe ...
s that were making unlawful and unproven medical claims to treat
Alzheimer's disease Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease and the cause of 60–70% of cases of dementia. The most common early symptom is difficulty in remembering recent events. As the disease advances, symptoms can include problems wit ...
and, at the same time, unveiled a set of policy steps to strengthen the FDA's oversight of dietary supplements that was billed as the most significant modernization of the agency's regulation of supplements in 25 years. In Spring 2019, Gottlieb took a series of actions to create a new framework for the development and FDA oversight of artificial intelligence medical devices. The stated goal was to allow products that sought to make regulated medical claims to come to the market through a predictable, negotiable regulatory process. In March 2019, Gottlieb pressed for the market withdrawal of certain
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because they were found to contain
asbestos Asbestos ( ) is a group of naturally occurring, Toxicity, toxic, carcinogenic and fibrous silicate minerals. There are six types, all of which are composed of long and thin fibrous Crystal habit, crystals, each fibre (particulate with length su ...
, at the same time that he announced a set of new proposals to strengthen oversight of the
cosmetics industry The cosmetic industry describes the industry that manufactures and distributes cosmetic products. These include colour cosmetics, like foundation and mascara, skincare such as moisturisers and cleansers, haircare such as shampoos, conditioners a ...
, winning praise from legislators who had been pressing for similar reforms. On March 5, 2019, Gottlieb announced his resignation as FDA Commissioner, effective in about a month. He said that he wanted to spend more time with his family. At the time of his resignation, ''
Politico ''Politico'' (stylized in all caps), known originally as ''The Politico'', is an American political digital newspaper company founded by American banker and media executive Robert Allbritton in 2007. It covers politics and policy in the Unit ...
'' observed, "FDA leaders have typically focused much of their attention on a handful of medical topics, but Gottlieb has been active and aggressive on many issues as commissioner without hewing to a strictly conservative or liberal ideology. It's an approach that's won him praise from many in the health sector, while garnering criticism from several of the targeted businesses like tobacco companies and the fast-growing e-cigarette industries." Gottlieb was called "an unusually activist regulator in the Trump administration whose agenda touched everything from tobacco to trans-fats," and he "wasn't afraid to speak on topics normally seen as a third rail for a FDA commissioner, including drug pricing… His most high-profile advocacy came in the area of youth smoking, where he aggressively pressed e-cigarette manufacturers and retailers to halt marketing to teens." At the same time, other reports observed that Gottlieb left the FDA with some of his signature tobacco policies still awaiting full implementation, including his plans to ban menthol in cigarettes. On March 13, 2019, Gottlieb moved to restrict sales of flavored e-cigarettes to try to reduce the soaring rate of teenage vaping. The agency issued a proposal requiring that stores sequester flavored e-cigarettes to areas off-limits to anyone under age 18. The proposal also called for banning the sale of many flavored cigars. Under the policy, the FDA would reserve the right to push companies to comply or remove their products from shelves. On March 27, 2019, Gottlieb advanced a new federal rule stipulating, for the first time, that centers that provide mammograms to screen for breast cancer will have to tell women whether they have
dense breast tissue Dense breast tissue, also known as dense breasts, is a condition of the breasts where a higher proportion of the breasts are made up of glandular tissue and fibrous tissue than fatty tissue. Around 40–50% of women have dense breast tissue an ...
, which can increase the risk of cancer and mask tumors. The rule marked the first changes proposed in 20 years to the FDA's regulations on
mammography Mammography (also called mastography; DICOM modality: MG) is the process of using low-energy X-rays (usually around 30 kVp) to examine the human breast for diagnosis and screening. The goal of mammography is the early detection of breast cance ...
. While commissioner, Gottlieb undertook a substantial expansion of the FDA's interdiction activities inside the international mail facilities, to expand the agency's ability to intercept opioids being shipped through the mail from places like China. He sought and received money from Congress to hire dozens of more staff to inspect 100,000 packages per year that had been flagged as suspicious by customs agents, up from a prior capacity of roughly 40,000. The FDA also launched a new collaboration with Customs and Border Protection to step up joint inspectional activities.


Private sector (2019–present)

Upon leaving the FDA, Gottlieb returned to the American Enterprise Institute. In May 2019, he returned to New Enterprise Associates as a partner in the firm's healthcare practice, where he helped lead the firm's investments in National Resilience, Comanche Biopharma, and Xaira Therapeutics; and joined the board of two additional NEA portfolio companies, Aetion, Inc. and Tempus AI. Gottlieb was elected as an independent member of the board of directors of Pfizer, Inc. in June 2019. He joined the Illumina, Inc. board of directors in February 2020 and the National Resilience, Inc. board of directors in November 2020, where he was one of the original venture investors. He is also a member of the boards of trustees of the
Mount Sinai Health System The Mount Sinai Health System is the largest hospital network in New York City. It was formed in September 2013 by merging the operations of Continuum Health Partners and Mount Sinai Medical Center. The Health System is structured around eight ...
and
Wesleyan University Wesleyan University ( ) is a Private university, private liberal arts college, liberal arts university in Middletown, Connecticut, United States. It was founded in 1831 as a Men's colleges in the United States, men's college under the Methodi ...
. Gottlieb is a regular contributor to the ''Journal of the American Medical Association's Health Forum''. With the advent of the
COVID-19 Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. In January 2020, the disease spread worldwide, resulting in the COVID-19 pandemic. The symptoms of COVID‑19 can vary but often include fever ...
reaching the United States and a great deal of misinformation being presented or correct information not being presented, Gottlieb has spoken out with public information on the virus on many venues. On February 12, 2020, Gottlieb testified before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs on preparedness for the novel coronavirus and future pandemic threats. On March 29, 2020, Gottlieb and several public health experts published "National Coronavirus Response: A Road Map to Reopening", providing specific actions for navigating through the current
COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic (also known as the coronavirus pandemic and COVID pandemic), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), began with an disease outbreak, outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, in December ...
in the United States. Since April 2020, Gottlieb has advised several governors on the COVID-19 pandemic. He joined Maryland Governor
Larry Hogan Lawrence Joseph Hogan Jr. (born May 25, 1956) is an American politician who served as the 62nd governor of Maryland from 2015 to 2023. A member of the Republican Party and son of three-term U.S. representative Lawrence Hogan, he served as co-ch ...
's COVID-19 response team and
Massachusetts Governor The governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is the head of government of the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The governor is the chief executive, head of the state cabinet and the commander-in-chief of the commonw ...
Charlie Baker Charles Duane Baker Jr. (born November 13, 1956) is an American politician serving as the sixth president of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, since 2023. A member of the Republican Party, he served as the 72nd governor of Massa ...
's COVID-19 advisory board. He has also advised
Connecticut Governor The governor of Connecticut is the head of government of Connecticut, and the commander-in-chief of the U.S. state, state's Connecticut Military Department, military forces. The Governor (United States), governor has a duty to enforce state laws, ...
Ned Lamont Edward Miner Lamont Jr. ( ; born January 3, 1954) is an American businessman and politician serving since 2019 as the 89th governor of Connecticut. A member of the Democratic Party (United States), Democratic Party, he served as a Greenwich, Con ...
as a member of the Reopen Connecticut Advisory Group. On November 20, 2020, it was announced that Gottlieb would serve on Montana's Governor-elect
Greg Gianforte Gregory Richard Gianforte ( ; born April 17, 1961) is an American politician, businessman, and software engineer serving as the 25th governor of Montana since 2021. A member of the Republican Party, Gianforte served as the U.S. representativ ...
's COVID-19 task force. Gottlieb was criticized by Substack author Alex Berenson for contacting Twitter; Berenson alleged it was to get him removed from the platform.


Other professional activities

Gottlieb was a member of the Public Policy Committee to the Society of Hospital Medicine and an editorial board member of the journal Value Based Cancer Care. He served as an adviser to the
National Comprehensive Cancer Network The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) is an alliance of 33 cancer centers in the United States, most of which are designated by the National Cancer Institute (one of the U.S. National Institutes of Health) as comprehensive cancer cent ...
, the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship. He is also a member of the advisory board to the
Milken Institute The Milken Institute is an independent economic think tank based in Santa Monica, California, with offices in Washington, D.C., New York, Miami, London, Abu Dhabi, and Singapore. It publishes research and hosts conferences that apply market-bas ...
's FasterCures and the National Institute for Health Care Management (NIHCM). Before first joining the FDA, and in between each of his three tours of government service, Gottlieb was a fellow at the
American Enterprise Institute The American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research, known simply as the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), is a center-right think tank based in Washington, D.C., that researches government, politics, economics, and social welfare ...
.


Writing

Gottlieb was a staff writer of the ''British Medical Journal'' (''
The BMJ ''The BMJ'' is a fortnightly peer-reviewed medical journal, published by BMJ Publishing Group Ltd, which in turn is wholly-owned by the British Medical Association (BMA). ''The BMJ'' has editorial freedom from the BMA. It is one of the world ...
'') from 1997 to 2005 and a senior editor of the Pulse section of the ''Journal of the American Medical Association'' (''
JAMA ''JAMA'' (''The Journal of the American Medical Association'') is a peer-reviewed medical journal published 48 times a year by the American Medical Association. It publishes original research, reviews, and editorials covering all aspects of b ...
'') from 1996 to 2001. He is a Contributor to the Journal of the American Medical Association's Health Forum and a regular contributor to the editorial page of ''
The Wall Street Journal ''The Wall Street Journal'' (''WSJ''), also referred to simply as the ''Journal,'' is an American newspaper based in New York City. The newspaper provides extensive coverage of news, especially business and finance. It operates on a subscriptio ...
'' and
The Washington Post ''The Washington Post'', locally known as ''The'' ''Post'' and, informally, ''WaPo'' or ''WP'', is an American daily newspaper published in Washington, D.C., the national capital. It is the most widely circulated newspaper in the Washington m ...
and wrote regularly for ''
Forbes ''Forbes'' () is an American business magazine founded by B. C. Forbes in 1917. It has been owned by the Hong Kong–based investment group Integrated Whale Media Investments since 2014. Its chairman and editor-in-chief is Steve Forbes. The co ...
''. In 2020 and 2021, Gottlieb authored a weekly column for the editorial page of the Wall Street Journal. Many of his articles have addressed the intersection of public policy and the practice of medicine. Gottlieb was a frequent and early critic of the
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act A patient is any recipient of health care services that are performed by healthcare professionals. The patient is most often ill or injured and in need of treatment by a physician, nurse, optometrist, dentist, veterinarian, or other health ...
. He wrote an editorial in ''The Wall Street Journal'', on the day of the health plan's launch, predicting the ensuing problems with the
healthcare.gov HealthCare.gov is a health insurance exchange website operated by the United States federal government under the provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), informally referred to as "Obamacare", which currently serves the residents of the U. ...
website. Gottlieb argued that studies showed some patients who received Medicaid had worse outcomes, including death, when they had certain conditions like head and neck cancer, compared to patients who had no insurance coverage at all. He observed that in these cases, uninsured patients had access to newer medicines through free patient assistance programs, whereas federal law prevented Medicaid patients from getting access to these free drug programs because they were enrolled in Medicaid. As a result, Medicaid patients depended on whether or not these newer and typically costlier medicines were covered by their state Medicaid programs, which, in the cases Gottlieb cited, were not available. Critics said that his article was based on "a classic misunderstanding: confusing correlation for causation," a limitation explicitly mentioned in papers he cited. In October 2019, Gottlieb wrote a feature for the conservative editorial page of ''The Wall Street Journal'', where he called for a "reckoning" when it comes to the impasse between state laws legalizing cannabis and the policy of federal prohibition that outlaws cannabis but is largely unenforced. In that op-ed, Gottlieb called for a pathway toward federal legalization of cannabis that would allow, among other reforms, easier access to the compound for research while exerting stricter and more uniform regulation over products. In a separate editorial writing in ''
The Washington Post ''The Washington Post'', locally known as ''The'' ''Post'' and, informally, ''WaPo'' or ''WP'', is an American daily newspaper published in Washington, D.C., the national capital. It is the most widely circulated newspaper in the Washington m ...
'', Gottlieb called on Congress and the FDA to create a framework for the legal sale of regulated
Cannabidiol Cannabidiol (CBD) is a phytocannabinoid, one of 113 identified cannabinoids in ''Cannabis'', along with tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), and accounts for up to 40% of the plant's extract. Medically, it is an anticonvulsant used to treat multiple f ...
(CBD), a chemical found in cannabis plants that is used to treat certain medical conditions. In January 2020, Gottlieb wrote several articles warning about the spread of COVID-19 in the United States. On January 23, Gottlieb wrote an Op-Ed titled "What must be done to head off the coronavirus threat" in ''The Washington Post.'' On January 27, Gottlieb wrote an Op-Ed titled "We need to prepare for US outbreak of Wuhan coronavirus." and on January 28, Gottlieb and Luciana Borio wrote an opinion which appeared in the editorial opinion of ''The Wall Street Journal'' entitled "Act Now to Prevent an American Epidemic." In a
Op Ed in the Washington Post
in 2024 Gottlieb called for stricter federal regulation of high-risk laboratory research, and he was among those during the Covid pandemic who argued that the virus may have been the result of a lab leak. Gottlieb examined the systemic shortcomings of the U.S. response to the COVID-19 pandemic in his new book,'' Uncontrolled Spread: Why COVID-19 Crushed Us and How We Can Defeat the Next Pandemic,'' which was released on September 21, 2021 by
HarperCollins HarperCollins Publishers LLC is a British–American publishing company that is considered to be one of the "Big Five (publishers), Big Five" English-language publishers, along with Penguin Random House, Hachette Book Group USA, Hachette, Macmi ...
. ''Uncontrolled Spread'' debuted at No.5 on ''The New York Times'' Best Seller list for Hardcover Nonfiction and at No.6 for Combined Print & E-Book Nonfiction. The book also debuted at No.9 on ''The Wall Street Journal'' Best Seller list for Hardcover Nonfiction and No.8 on the ''
Publishers Weekly ''Publishers Weekly'' (''PW'') is an American weekly trade news magazine targeted at publishers, librarians, booksellers, and literary agents. Published continuously since 1872, it has carried the tagline, "The International News Magazine of ...
'' hardcover Nonfiction Best Seller list.


Recognition

* ''
Fortune Fortune may refer to: General * Fortuna or Fortune, the Roman goddess of luck * Luck * Wealth * Fate * Fortune, a prediction made in fortune-telling * Fortune, in a fortune cookie Arts and entertainment Film and television * ''The Fortune'' (19 ...
'' magazine identified Gottlieb as one of its 2018 "The World's 50 Greatest Leaders," ranking him number 6. The magazine stated "Gottlieb has gotten credit for being transparent about FDA steps—and, more important, for using his bully pulpit without being a bully." ''
Fortune Fortune may refer to: General * Fortuna or Fortune, the Roman goddess of luck * Luck * Wealth * Fate * Fortune, a prediction made in fortune-telling * Fortune, in a fortune cookie Arts and entertainment Film and television * ''The Fortune'' (19 ...
'' magazine selected Gottlieb again in its 2019 survey, ranking him number 50 among its "World's 50 Greatest Leaders." * ''Time'' magazine named Gottlieb one of its "50 People Transforming Healthcare in 2018," noting that "Gottlieb gained supporters for grounding his tough policies in scientific evidence." * In naming Gottlieb as one of its "50 Politicos for 2018," the publication ''Politico'' noted that "This isn't the Scott Gottlieb many people had expected. As a Bush administration official, the physician was an avowed free-marketer, leading liberals to worry he would aggressively try to dismantle the FDA's vast regulatory apparatus. But since his confirmation, as counterparts at other federal agencies have focused on overturning or undermining the rules they inherited, Gottlieb has struck a genuine balance at the FDA." * In naming Gottlieb the "Most Influential Physician Executive and Leader" in its 2018 annual survey of 50 physician executives, ''
Modern Healthcare ''Modern Healthcare'' is a twice monthly business publication targeting executives in the healthcare industry. It is an independent American publisher of national and regional healthcare news. The publication is also known for providing statisti ...
'' noted that "an unprecedented level of transparency and public disclosure has garnered support from across the industry." In 2019, ''Modern Healthcare'' again named Gottlieb the most influential physician executive and leader, noting "Gottlieb accomplished a rare feat during his two-year tenure as head of the Food and Drug Administration—he earned praise from Republicans and Democrats alike." ''Modern Healthcare'' observed "although he stepped down in April, stakeholders hope the former commissioner's endeavors will live on and influence future agency heads." * ''
Modern Healthcare ''Modern Healthcare'' is a twice monthly business publication targeting executives in the healthcare industry. It is an independent American publisher of national and regional healthcare news. The publication is also known for providing statisti ...
'' also named Gottlieb nineteenth in its survey of the 100 most influential people in healthcare, in 2018, fifty-fifth in 2019, and fifty-fourth in 2021. * In October 2018, Gottlieb was elected a member of the
National Academy of Medicine The National Academy of Medicine (NAM), known as the Institute of Medicine (IoM) until 2015, is an American nonprofit, non-governmental organization. The National Academy of Medicine is a part of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineerin ...
. * The
American Medical Association The American Medical Association (AMA) is an American professional association and lobbying group of physicians and medical students. This medical association was founded in 1847 and is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. Membership was 271,660 ...
presented Gottlieb with its 2019 Dr. Nathan Davis Award for Outstanding Government Service. * In May 2019, Gottlieb received an honorary Doctor of Science degree from the
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (ISMMS or Mount Sinai), formerly the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, is a private medical school in New York City, New York, United States. The school is the academic teaching arm of the Mount Sina ...
for "his commitment to improving the nation's health and for his work at the FDA, expediting the approval of treatments and drugs, and battling opioid addiction and the use of e-cigarettes by youth." * In September 2019, Gottlieb received Cancer Research Leadership Award from
Friends of Cancer Research Friends of Cancer Research is a non-profit cancer research think tank and advocacy organization based in Washington, D.C. History Friends of Cancer Research was founded in 1996 to mark the 25th Anniversary of the National Cancer Act. Initially f ...
in recognition of his leadership in the regulatory and scientific innovations. * Gottlieb was recognized on ''
Modern Healthcare ''Modern Healthcare'' is a twice monthly business publication targeting executives in the healthcare industry. It is an independent American publisher of national and regional healthcare news. The publication is also known for providing statisti ...
s list of 50 Most Influential Clinical Executives for 2020. The magazine stated that Gottlieb "has maintained a high—and influential—profile. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he has been active in the media—both traditional and social—talking about a host of challenges facing the nation, from the supply chain to the importance of a test-trace-isolate protocol." * ''Medical Marketing & Media'' (MM&M) and ''
PRWeek ''PRWeek'' is a trade magazine and news website for the public relations and wider communications industry. It is published by Haymarket Media Group. History ''PRWeek'' was originally launched as a private venture in 1984 and was acquired b ...
'' recognized Gottlieb on their 2020 Health Influencer 50 list, ranking him number 4. They noted that "In a year that will likely be remembered for medical misinformation and the proliferation of science-deniers, Dr. Scott Gottlieb continues to stand out as one of the clearest and most direct communicators of all things health-related." * Gottlieb was named one of "Washington's 2021 Most Influential People" by '' Washingtonian''. * In May 2021, Gottlieb received an honorary Doctor of Science degree from
Wesleyan University Wesleyan University ( ) is a Private university, private liberal arts college, liberal arts university in Middletown, Connecticut, United States. It was founded in 1831 as a Men's colleges in the United States, men's college under the Methodi ...
in recognition of "his achievements in dealing with the opioid crisis, the epidemic use of electronic cigarettes, and drug pricing, as well as his willingness to speak up and educate others on the nature of the COVID-19 virus." In 2022, he was inducted into the East Brunswick High School "Hall of Fame," where he graduated in 1990. * Gottlieb was recognized by ''
Modern Healthcare ''Modern Healthcare'' is a twice monthly business publication targeting executives in the healthcare industry. It is an independent American publisher of national and regional healthcare news. The publication is also known for providing statisti ...
'' as one of 2021's 100 Most Influential People in Healthcare. * ''
Mediaite Mediaite is an American news website focusing on politics and the media. Founded by Dan Abrams, it is part of the Abrams Media Network. Mediaite saw its largest audience ever in 2023 with a total of 701 million pageviews for the year. That grow ...
'' recognized Gottlieb on their Most Influential in News Media 2021 list, ranking him number 24. They noted that Gottlieb "established himself as one of the most valuable experts to follow on the Covid-19 pandemic in 2021. Gottlieb's regular appearances on the CBS Sunday show ''
Face the Nation ''Face the Nation'' is a weekly news and Sunday morning talk show, morning public affairs program airing Sundays on the CBS radio and Television broadcasting, television network. Created by Frank Stanton (executive), Frank Stanton in 1954, ''Fa ...
'', as well as CNBC's ''
Squawk Box ''Squawk Box'' is an American business news television program that airs from 6 to 9 a.m. Eastern Time Zone, Eastern time on CNBC. The program is co-hosted by Joe Kernen, Rebecca Quick, Becky Quick, and Andrew Ross Sorkin. Since debuting in 19 ...
'', were refreshing in their honesty and sharp analysis. Unlike many in the Covid pundit class, Gottlieb did not shy away from challenging orthodoxy. He also called out both sides of the aisle, blaming his former boss for politicizing Covid while blaming the Biden administration for its mixed messaging surrounding the pandemic." * Gottlieb was named one of Washington, D.C.'s 500 Most Influential People Shaping Policy in 2022 and 2023 by '' Washingtonian''. * FiercePharma named Gottlieb one of "The 22 most influential people in the fight against COVID-19," noting that Gottlieb "emerged as an important and trusted voice" and "Through the pandemic, Gottlieb has been a vocal advocate of science and an eager educator explaining complex concepts about the virus, vaccines and treatments." * He was the 2024 recipient of The Mount Sinai School of Medicine Alumni Special Recognition Award


Personal life

Gottlieb is a survivor of
Hodgkin lymphoma Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) is a type of lymphoma in which cancer originates from a specific type of white blood cell called lymphocytes, where multinucleated Reed–Sternberg cells (RS cells) are present in the lymph nodes. The condition was named a ...
. He is married and has three daughters.


References


External links


Biography at FDA
* *
Homepage at AEI

Web Page at NEA

CNBC Contributor
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gottlieb, Scott 1972 births Living people People from East Brunswick, New Jersey Physicians from New Jersey Commissioners of the Food and Drug Administration Daiichi Sankyo people Pfizer Pfizer people New Jersey Republicans First Trump administration personnel American Enterprise Institute Members of the National Academy of Medicine Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai alumni Wesleyan University alumni New York University Grossman School of Medicine faculty 20th-century American Jews 21st-century American Jews