Recent Developments on Vinay Prasad’s Leaked FDA Memo, Alzheimer’s Disease Updates, and Next-Gen Obesity Drugs

Vinay Prasad, Chief of the FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER), authored a leaked internal memo alleging 10 child deaths linked to COVID-19 vaccines based on VAERS data, but provided no detailed evidence, sparking significant controversy and criticism from experts about lack of transparency and data reliability1 4 6.

Prasad's memo proposes major changes in vaccine policy including stricter FDA approval requirements for COVID-19 vaccines and others like influenza and pneumonia vaccines, demanding randomized clinical trials and questioning use of observational data from the pandemic era; these changes affect vaccine market dynamics and industry responses1 2 3 4.

Experts highlight that VAERS reports are unsubstantiated and traditionally require follow-up investigations, which were not clearly documented in Prasad's review, raising concerns about the memo's conclusions and regulatory approach1.

Industry stakeholders warn that Prasad's policy overhaul could complicate vaccine access and development, with calls for formal FDA guidance to clarify and implement the announced changes which may take years4 5.

The leaked memo has intensified the national debate on vaccine safety, transparency, political influence in public health, and regulatory practices amid a backdrop of broader discussions including policy shifts directed by figures like Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.6.

No relevant recent updates on Alzheimer's disease trends or next-generation obesity drugs were found in the current search results, suggesting those topics remain outside the scope of these particular news reports as of early December 2025.