Three finalists emerge to lead FDA

The White House is down to three finalists for the next FDA commissioner, according to Axios. The candidates: Heidi Overton, a White House aide and Makary protégé; Jeffrey Vacirca, an oncologist and CEO; and Stephen Ferrara, a Pentagon health official. The choice matters—the FDA has been in freefall since Marty Makary's departure and now needs to rebuild trust with the pharmaceutical industry. Sources indicate Ferrara is the frontrunner, though Overton's close ties to Makary could spook investors and agency staff with the specter of more instability. The eventual nominee will face Senate confirmation, with timing still unclear.

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