Peter Marks, the former head of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER), has joined pharma giant Eli Lilly as senior vice president of molecule discovery and infectious disease research. Marks, who held his federal role for nearly a decade, previously clashed with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. over vaccine policies. His departure from the agency coincided with early tensions in the new Trump administration, where he criticized what he called an “unprecedented assault on scientific truth” in a resignation letter. During his tenure, Marks advocated for accelerated approvals of rare disease treatments and played a key role in advancing COVID-19 vaccines through Operation Warp Speed. His transition to Eli Lilly highlights ongoing concerns about the revolving door between government regulatory roles and corporate interests, a pattern seen with figures like former FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, who joined Pfizer shortly after leaving office. Marks’ career has drawn scrutiny for decisions such as supporting controversial drug approvals, including COVID-19 vaccine boosters. Critics argue his move underscores systemic conflicts of interest in public health leadership.