Sergio Pecorelli has decided to leave the position of president of the Italian Medicines Agency (Aifa) after six years due to allegations of conflict of interest regarding ties with pharmaceutical companies that produce vaccines, but also top management roles in venture companies capital on the pharmaceutical market.
The news was announced by the Ministry of Health which, through a note, announced that "The Minister of Health Beatrice Lorenzin has accepted the resignation of Professor Sergio Pecorelli as president of the AIFA board of directors".
Going into detail, the doubts concerned the contributions received (through a foundation led by him, the Healthy Foundation) from pharmaceutical companies or his presence on the advisory board of Principia Sgr, a company that deals with pharmaceuticals. Precisely for these reasons, the suspension of Pecorelli from office was decided on November 28th.
These doubts had already led, last November 28, to the suspension of Pecorelli from office decided by the general director of Aifa, Luca Pani, and by minister Lorenzin.
But his stance was anticipated by Pecorelli's resignation. «Professor Pecorelli - declares Minister Lorenzin - has decided to present his resignation to guarantee a peaceful performance of the activity of the Italian Medicines Agency, to which he has dedicated commitment and passion. In recent years I have had the opportunity to appreciate his professionalism and experience, recognized not only in Italy but by the international scientific community. I thank him for the work he has done and for the gesture of institutional sensitivity. I'm sure that Professor Pecorelli will be able to demonstrate total non-involvement in the disputed facts».
