- Analysts at Wall Road agency Cantor Fitzgerald, previously led by Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, known as on the Trump administration to “reevaluate” RFK Jr.’s position as secretary of the Division of Well being and Human Providers. The HHS secretary final week reportedly compelled the FDA’s prime vaccine official to resign.
Analysts on the Wall Road agency previously led by Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick need Well being and Human Providers Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. dismissed.
In a notice, Cantor Fitzgerald analysts Josh Schimmer and Eric Schmidt known as for the Trump administration to “reevaluate” RFK Jr.’s position, following the resignation of the Meals and Drug Administration’s prime vaccine official.
The official, Peter Marks, was reportedly compelled to resign by Kennedy final week with the approval of newly confirmed FDA commissioner Marty Makary, Politico reported. The FDA falls underneath the umbrella of HHS.
The Cantor Fitzgerald analysts criticized Kennedy’s management and his plans to remake HHS. Final week, Kennedy mentioned HHS will lay off round 10,000 folks, the primary spherical of which started on Tuesday, CBS Information reported.
“We call on the administration to re-evaluate RFK Jr’s role at HHS. Pushing out one of the most trusted leaders of the FDA to promote an anti-science agenda is a step too far for us,” the analysts wrote. “HHS cannot be led by an anti-vax, conspiracy theorist with inadequate training.”
The analysts added that RFK Jr. was “undermining the trusted management of well being care on this nation.”
A spokesperson for Cantor Fitzgerald emphasised the independence of its analysts in an announcement to Fortune.
“The views expressed in our Equity Research reports are solely those of the analyst(s). As always, we pride ourselves on the independence of the analysts within our Research division,” the spokesperson mentioned.
The White Home and HHS didn’t instantly reply to Fortune’s request for remark.
Former FDA commissioner Robert Califf additionally commented on Marks’ dismissal.
“I had the chance to work closely with him, and while many people disagreed with one or another decision he made, I can assert that his interest was always with the combination of public health and the special needs of patients in this rapidly evolving world of technology.”
Share costs of a few of the largest vaccine makers, together with Merck, Moderna, and Pfizer fell. Moderna led the losses, closing down greater than 4% Tuesday. Each Pfizer and Merck closed down about 3%.
In his resignation letter, Marks took a last shot at Kennedy’s management at HHS.
“I was willing to work to address the Secretary’s concerns regarding vaccine safety and transparency,” Marks wrote. “However, it has become clear that truth and transparency are not desired by the Secretary, but rather he wishes subservient confirmation of his misinformation and lies.”
This story was initially featured on Fortune.com
