FDA Commissioner Makary Resigns Amid Controversy
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: May 12 2026
0mins
Source: CNBC
- Makary Resignation: FDA Commissioner Marty Makary resigned on December 18, 2025, concluding a controversial tenure marked by criticism over the government's COVID-19 response and drug approval processes, which drew backlash from various stakeholders.
- Acting Commissioner Appointment: President Trump announced that Kyle Diamantas will temporarily take over as acting commissioner, having previously served as the top food official at the FDA, and will need to navigate the complex drug approval landscape left by Makary.
- Internal Turmoil Intensifies: Under Makary's leadership, staff morale at the FDA plummeted due to layoffs and departures, notably that of cancer regulator Richard Pazdur, leading to increased distrust in leadership and impacting the agency's stability.
- Drug Approval Controversies: During Makary's tenure, the FDA rejected several rare disease treatments, raising concerns within the pharmaceutical industry, particularly as negotiations for the reauthorization of the Prescription Drug User Fee Act highlighted the industry's sensitivity to leadership changes at the FDA.
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Analyst Views on REPL
Wall Street analysts forecast REPL stock price to rise
7 Analyst Rating
4 Buy
3 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 4.680
Low
3.00
Averages
11.43
High
18.00
Current: 4.680
Low
3.00
Averages
11.43
High
18.00
About REPL
Replimune Group, Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company engaged in the development of novel oncolytic immunotherapies. Its proprietary RPx platform is based on a potent HSV-1 backbone intended to maximize immunogenic cell death and the induction of a systemic anti-tumor immune response. The RPx platform is designed to have a unique dual local and systemic activity consisting of direct selective virus-mediated killing of the tumor resulting in the release of tumor-derived antigens and altering of the tumor microenvironment to ignite a systemic response. Its lead product candidate, RP1, is a selectively replicating version of HSV-1 that expresses GALV-GP R(-) and human GM-CSF. Its lead indication for its lead product candidate, RP1, is the potential treatment of advanced melanoma. Its pipeline product candidates include RP2 and RP3. It has designed its RP2 product candidate to express an anti-CTLA-4 antibody-like protein intended to block the inhibition of the immune response.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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- FDA Collaboration: The company has reached an agreement with the FDA on a pathway to resubmit its Biologics License Application (BLA) for RP1 as part of a combination therapy for melanoma, demonstrating the FDA's engagement and support for the drug's development.
- Clinical Trial Data Support: Replimune will leverage data from its IGNYTE clinical trial, which tested RP1 in combination with Bristol Myers' nivolumab, to bolster its BLA submission, enhancing the drug's market potential and credibility.
- Urgent Review Priority: The FDA has classified the review of RP1 as urgent due to the significantly unmet medical need, a decision that not only increases the likelihood of approval but also provides Replimune with a faster route to market entry.
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- FDA Prioritization: Replimune has reached an agreement with the FDA to resubmit its Biologics License Application for RP1, with the FDA treating this as an urgent matter, highlighting the significant unmet needs of advanced melanoma patients and potentially accelerating the review process.
- Stock Surge: Following the agreement, Replimune's shares surged 80% on Friday, breaching the 200-day moving average and marking the largest single-day gain in over seven months, reflecting renewed investor optimism regarding the company's prospects.
- Regulatory Uncertainty: The FDA had previously rejected the application twice, leading CEO Sushil Patel to criticize the review process as inconsistent, which forced the company to cut jobs and scale back U.S. manufacturing operations, indicating the substantial impact of regulatory environments on business operations.
- Leadership Change Impact: The agreement comes after a leadership shakeup at the FDA, with former head Marty Makary stepping down, which has drawn widespread criticism regarding the agency's handling of drug reviews, further exacerbating industry concerns about delays in the approval of new treatments.
See More
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- Positive Market Reaction: Following the announcement, Replimune's shares surged by 70% in premarket trading, reflecting investor optimism about the company's future prospects, with a market value of $386 million as of Thursday's close.
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See More
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- Resubmission Announcement: Replimune plans to resubmit its melanoma drug application under the new FDA leadership after two previous rejections under former Commissioner Marty Makary, indicating increased confidence in the agency's current direction.
- FDA Urgent Review: The FDA has indicated it will treat Replimune's application as urgent, which not only brings hope to the company but also to thousands of advanced melanoma patients with limited treatment options available.
- Positive Market Reaction: Following the announcement, Replimune's shares surged by 70% in premarket trading, reflecting investor optimism about the company's future prospects and boosting its market value to $386 million.
- Broader Industry Implications: The constructive dialogue between Replimune and the FDA is seen as a sign of improving relations between the pharmaceutical industry and regulators, potentially influencing the approval processes for other drugs and fostering the development of more innovative therapies.
See More
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- FDA Resubmission Pathway Confirmed: Replimune has aligned with the FDA on a plan to resubmit the Biologics License Application (BLA) for RP1 in the coming days, which will expedite the approval process for advanced melanoma treatment and address urgent patient needs.
- Clinical Trial Support: The BLA is backed by data from the IGNYTE clinical trial, demonstrating the efficacy of RP1 combined with nivolumab for patients who have failed prior PD-1 therapy, potentially offering new treatment options for approximately 8,500 Americans with advanced melanoma each year.
- Urgent Market Demand: Melanoma is the fifth most common cancer in the U.S., with an estimated 112,000 new cases in 2026, and existing therapies fail to work for about half of patients, underscoring the market potential and strategic significance of new therapies.
- Company Vision and Commitment: Replimune CEO Sushil Patel expressed gratitude for the collaborative dialogue with the FDA, emphasizing the company's commitment to swiftly bringing RP1 to market to meet the treatment needs of melanoma patients, showcasing its leadership in cancer treatment innovation.
See More
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- Stock Surge: Replimune (REPL) shares soared over 60% in premarket trading on Friday, reflecting strong market optimism regarding the company's plans to resubmit its marketing application for RP1, indicating investor confidence in future prospects.
- FDA Collaboration: The company has reached an agreement with the FDA on a pathway to resubmit its Biologics License Application (BLA) for RP1 as part of a combination therapy for melanoma, demonstrating the FDA's engagement and support for the drug's development.
- Clinical Trial Data Support: Replimune will leverage data from its IGNYTE clinical trial, which tested RP1 in combination with Bristol Myers' nivolumab, to bolster its BLA submission, enhancing the drug's market potential and credibility.
- Urgent Review Priority: The FDA has classified the review of RP1 as urgent due to the significantly unmet medical need, a decision that not only increases the likelihood of approval but also provides Replimune with a faster route to market entry.
See More
Replimune Secures FDA Agreement, Shares Surge 80%
- FDA Prioritization: Replimune has reached an agreement with the FDA to resubmit its Biologics License Application for RP1, with the FDA treating this as an urgent matter, highlighting the significant unmet needs of advanced melanoma patients and potentially accelerating the review process.
- Stock Surge: Following the agreement, Replimune's shares surged 80% on Friday, breaching the 200-day moving average and marking the largest single-day gain in over seven months, reflecting renewed investor optimism regarding the company's prospects.
- Regulatory Uncertainty: The FDA had previously rejected the application twice, leading CEO Sushil Patel to criticize the review process as inconsistent, which forced the company to cut jobs and scale back U.S. manufacturing operations, indicating the substantial impact of regulatory environments on business operations.
- Leadership Change Impact: The agreement comes after a leadership shakeup at the FDA, with former head Marty Makary stepping down, which has drawn widespread criticism regarding the agency's handling of drug reviews, further exacerbating industry concerns about delays in the approval of new treatments.
See More
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- Significant Pre-Market Gains: Replimune Group, Inc. (REPL) surged 69% to $7.92 in pre-market trading, indicating strong market confidence in its potential breakout, which may attract more investor interest.
- Other Gaining Stocks: aTyr Pharma, Inc. (ATYR) rose 15% to $0.56, while Basel Medical Group Ltd. (BMGL) and Artiva Biotherapeutics, Inc. (ARTV) both increased by 10% to $0.64 and $8.34 respectively, reflecting an overall positive sentiment in the biotech sector.
- Pre-Market Decliners: Rocket One Inc. (RKTO) fell 16% to $1.43 in pre-market trading, reflecting market concerns about its future performance, which may lead investors to reassess their investment strategies.
- Other Declining Stocks: SciSparc Ltd. (SPRC) dropped 13% to $9.15, and Aethlon Medical, Inc. (AEMD) decreased by 11% to $2.60, indicating challenges faced by some biotech companies that could impact market confidence.
See More
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- FDA Resubmission: Replimune plans to resubmit its melanoma drug application following leadership changes at the FDA, after two previous rejections under former Commissioner Marty Makary, indicating improved alignment between the company and the agency that could offer new hope for patients.
- Positive Market Reaction: Following the announcement, Replimune's shares surged by 70% in premarket trading, reflecting investor optimism about the company's future prospects, with a market value of $386 million as of Thursday's close.
- Clinical Trial Controversy: Replimune accused the FDA of wrongfully blocking its drug, which is seen as a promising treatment for skin cancer, while the FDA claimed the company did not adhere to clinical trial guidelines, highlighting the complexities in the drug approval process.
- Significant Patient Impact: Replimune stated that the constructive dialogue with the FDA represents a crucial step forward for thousands of patients with advanced melanoma who have limited treatment options after prior anti-PD-1 therapies, underscoring the importance of new drug approvals in enhancing patient care.
See More
Replimune Plans to Resubmit Melanoma Drug Application Following FDA Leadership Change
- Resubmission Announcement: Replimune plans to resubmit its melanoma drug application under the new FDA leadership after two previous rejections under former Commissioner Marty Makary, indicating increased confidence in the agency's current direction.
- FDA Urgent Review: The FDA has indicated it will treat Replimune's application as urgent, which not only brings hope to the company but also to thousands of advanced melanoma patients with limited treatment options available.
- Positive Market Reaction: Following the announcement, Replimune's shares surged by 70% in premarket trading, reflecting investor optimism about the company's future prospects and boosting its market value to $386 million.
- Broader Industry Implications: The constructive dialogue between Replimune and the FDA is seen as a sign of improving relations between the pharmaceutical industry and regulators, potentially influencing the approval processes for other drugs and fostering the development of more innovative therapies.
See More
Replimune Aligns with FDA on RP1 Resubmission Pathway
- FDA Resubmission Pathway Confirmed: Replimune has aligned with the FDA on a plan to resubmit the Biologics License Application (BLA) for RP1 in the coming days, which will expedite the approval process for advanced melanoma treatment and address urgent patient needs.
- Clinical Trial Support: The BLA is backed by data from the IGNYTE clinical trial, demonstrating the efficacy of RP1 combined with nivolumab for patients who have failed prior PD-1 therapy, potentially offering new treatment options for approximately 8,500 Americans with advanced melanoma each year.
- Urgent Market Demand: Melanoma is the fifth most common cancer in the U.S., with an estimated 112,000 new cases in 2026, and existing therapies fail to work for about half of patients, underscoring the market potential and strategic significance of new therapies.
- Company Vision and Commitment: Replimune CEO Sushil Patel expressed gratitude for the collaborative dialogue with the FDA, emphasizing the company's commitment to swiftly bringing RP1 to market to meet the treatment needs of melanoma patients, showcasing its leadership in cancer treatment innovation.
See More
