George Tidmarsh


George Tidmarsh is an American politician and businessman who served as the Director of U.S. Center for Drug [Evaluation and Research] from July to October 2025. He was also the temporary Director of U.S. Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research after Vinay Prasad resigned, until Prasad returned 10 days later.

Education

Tidmarsh attended Stanford University for his undergraduate degree and subsequently MD and PhD in Cancer Biology.

Career

Prior to taking a role in the second Trump administration, Tidmarsh was described as a serial entrepreneur, serving as a founder and executive of several biotech companies. This included bringing Duexis to market as founder and CEO of Horizon Therapeutics, and a subsequent term as CEO of La Jolla Pharmaceutical Company when the company received FDA approval for Giapreza.
He was also an adjunct professor at Stanford [University School of Medicine] and founded a master's degree program in translational research and applied medicine.

Controversy

Tidmarsh was placed on administrative leave from the CDER in October 2025 by Marty Makary after accusations of abusing his regulatory authority. A suit was also filed against him by Aurinia Pharmaceuticals claiming Tidmarsh misused his authority to target a businesses of a former associate, and publically questioning the previous FDA approval of its drug voclosporin. On November 2, 2025 Tidmarsh officially resigned from the directorship of the CDER, stating he left to protest the handling of drug reviews at the FDA.