WASHINGTON — George Tidmarsh, the Food and Drug Administration’s top regulator of drugs, has been placed on administrative leave after being accused of using his regulatory authority to inflict financial harm on a former business associate, STAT has learned.

FDA Commissioner Marty Makary relieved Tidmarsh of his duties on Saturday after opening an investigation into his conduct based on a complaint filed against Tidmarsh by Kevin Tang, a San Diego-based health care investor and business owner.

In an interview with STAT, Tidmarsh confirmed he was placed on leave from his role as the director of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. Makary informed him about Tang’s complaint on Friday, but Tidmarsh did not find out he had been placed on leave until he was locked out of his age

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