U.S. Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Marty Makary defended himself in a CNBC interview aired Tuesday after months of pressure over the recent drug rejections.

The unrelenting heat reached new heights this week with a Bloomberg News report that described “paranoia, turmoil and backlash” at the agency under Makary’s tenure. A Wall Street Journal opinion piece asked whether any administration official has given President Donald Trump more headaches than Makary. The editorial specifically cited the FDA’s controversial rejection of a melanoma drug candidate Replenishment.

“I think this Wall Street Journal article is the ninth article they’ve published in this opinion section begging for Replimune’s approval,” Makary said in an interview with CNBC’s David Faber. “I don’t work for Replimune, I work for the American people and I stand with the scientists at the FDA.”

Martin Makary, Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, during a press conference at FDA headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland, April 28, 2026.

Valerie Plesch | Bloomberg | Getty Images

Makary said three independent teams came to the same conclusion, adding that the FDA did not enter into any “corrupt sweetheart deals.” Replimune officials said the FDA treated the company unfairly.

Makary said He stands behind his review teams and that every time FDA commissioners overruled the agency’s scientists it was a “disaster.” He cited examples such as the FDA’s approval of an Alzheimer’s drug called Aduhelm and the approval of a Covid-19 vaccine booster for young, healthy children.

Choose CNBC as your preferred source on Google and never miss a moment from the most trusted name in business news.