RFK Jr. is a ‘conspiracy theorist’ endangering lives, say analysts at Howard Lutnick’s former agency

Well being and Human Providers Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an anti-vaccine crusader, just isn’t certified to have any energy on the company that is supposed to guard the well being of Individuals, mentioned analysis analysts at Cantor Fitzgerald, which was previously headed by Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.

Cantor’s word got here as Peter Marks, the pinnacle of the FDA biologics division, resigned in protest of Kennedy’s skepticism of vaccines. Kennedy, a distinguished vaccine skeptic, has already taken steps that public well being specialists say may deter routine immunizations within the U.S.

“We name on the administration to re-evaluate RFK Jr’s position at HHS. Pushing out probably the most trusted leaders of the FDA to advertise an anti-science agenda is a step too far for us,” analysts Josh Schimmer and Eric Schmidt wrote in an uncommon word to purchasers Tuesday. “HHS can’t be led by an anti-vax, conspiracy theorist with insufficient coaching.”

Kennedy has downplayed the importance of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine and promoted unproven remedies to counter the measles outbreak. The Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention can be carrying out a study into lengthy debunked hyperlinks between vaccines and autism, led by a researcher with a historical past of spreading misinformation about photographs.

“An beginner scientist who would not recognize the necessity for tough public well being coverage selections, who struggles with the distinction between causality and correlation, and who promotes unproven treatments on the expense of confirmed ones just isn’t the precise individual for the job, on our view,” Cantor analysts wrote.

Shares of vaccine makers Moderna and Novavax, together with a variety of different biotech firms, offered off considerably Monday after the resignation of Marks. Moderna and Novavax each shed greater than 8%, whereas the SPDR S&P Biotech ETF slid almost 4%.

“This has nothing to do with shares, though the biotech tape could also be roiled from Marks’ resignation, that is not what issues,” acknowledged the analysts who usually opine to purchasers about whether or not to purchase or promote sure equities. “That is a lot larger than that.”

HHS did not instantly reply to a CNBC’s request for remark.

“We already had a unnecessary measles loss of life. It is time to finish the narrative of ‘simply take Vitamin A’ and ‘give people the liberty to decide on’ all while telling them vaccines may cause autism. What number of extra folks must die from this absurdity?” the analysts wrote.

Lutnick stepped down as chairman and CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald in February after he was confirmed because the Secretary of Commerce. Lutnick led the funding financial institution for 40 years.