Vinay Prasad will step down as head of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research next month, returning to academia after a tenure that saw frequent overruling of his scientific review staff and adoption of additional testing requirements for vaccines and rare disease drugs. The agency intends to name a successor before his departure, with industry analysts forecasting quicker regulatory decisions under new leadership.

UniQure stock jumped 70% in postmarket trading following news of Prasad’s exit, reflecting investor optimism that the change could remove obstacles stemming from a public dispute over the FDA’s requirements for its Huntington’s disease gene therapy. The company and its supporters have argued that rigid data demands delayed the therapy’s approval process.

Prasad’s departure may herald a shift toward more collaborative FDA-industry relations, potentially speeding reviews for novel therapies. Market participants will watch the nomination of his successor closely, as any policy adjustments could influence approval timelines across the gene therapy sector.