Szarama Departs CBER; Karim Mikhail Named Acting Director

May 20, 2026

Katherine Szarama, PhD, who became acting director of the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER) earlier this month, has been replaced following the departure of FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, MD, MPH.

Karim Mikhail, B. Pharm, MSc, has been appointed acting director of CBER. Mikhail joined FDA in 2025 as a senior advisor in the Office of the Commissioner. He previously held leadership roles at several biopharma companies and spent more than two decades at Merck.