Last week, President-elect Donald Trump meet with Jim O'Neill and Balaji Srinivasan, two Silicon Valley insiders, about possibly leading the FDA, according to STAT.
Here are five things to know:
1. The two picks may spark some opposition based on their past stances regarding various healthcare matters. STAT reports Mr. O’Neill and Mr. Srinivasan have both criticized FDA practices.
2. Mr. O'Neill, a managing director at San Francisco-based Mithril Capital Management, advocated for the FDA to allow companies to market new products without first proving drugs' efficacy.
3. While reports started circulating over Mr. O'Neill's possible appointment in December 2016, Mr. Srinivasan is a new contender to lead the position. Mr. Srinivasan invested in many tech startups and is the founder of San Francisco-based 21 Inc., a company allowing users to obtain bitcoin on their devices.
4. Mr. Srinivasan also co-founded San Francisco-based Counsyl, a company that makes prenatal tests. Although he is no longer directly involved in the company's operations, his prior role as the company's chief technical officer may spark opposition from anti-abortion groups. The company has a blood test that allows screening of a fetus as early as 10 weeks for Down syndrome.
5. Scott Gottlieb, MD, a former FDA deputy commissioner, is also among the candidates to lead the FDA. He is a resident fellow at the American Enterprise Institute.