US FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb stepping down

In a surprise announcement on Tuesday, it was revealed the US Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Scott Gottlieb would be stepping down from the post, in one month.

There was no explanation given for the decision, to abandon the position, which Dr Gottlieb took on just two years ago, with strong evidence of moving forward legislation on speeding up new drug as well as generics and biosimilars approval, among other things.

However, in a note tweeted by the FDA's official Twitter account, Dr Gottlieb cited family as the principal reason behind his decision.