Nobel laureates sign letter against RFK Jr.

According to Richard Roberts, winner of the 1993 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, who helped draft the letter, Nobel laureates try to stay out of politics whenever possible. But he said the potential confirmation of Kennedy as HHS secretary is a threat they couldn't ignore.

"These political attacks on science are very damaging," he said. "You have to stand up and protect it."

In the letter, the laureates questioned whether Kennedy, who they argued has "a lack of credentials" in medicine, science, or administration, should lead HHS. "Placing Mr. Kennedy in charge of DHHS would put the public's health in jeopardy and undermine America's global leadership in the health sciences," the letter said.

The laureates noted that Kennedy has been a "belligerent critic" of the agencies that would fall under his control at HHS, including FDA, CDC, and NIH.

Kennedy previously threatened to fire FDA employees, which he argued have waged a "war on public health," and has promised to replace hundreds of employees at NIH the day after President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration.

"The leader of DHHS should continue to nurture and improve — not to threaten — these important and highly respected institutions and their employees," the letter said.

Harold Vamus, a 1989 Nobel Prize winner who signed the letter, said that scientific research, which depends on federal funding, can't be disentangled from the political climate.

"Science is dependent on the political structures of this country," he said. "I don't think we should be burying our heads in the sand just because we're scientists."

Roberts said he hopes the letter will be successful, adding that even if it swayed a small number of senators, it might be enough to block Kennedy's confirmation.

"Maybe there are some who will read this and think, well, we really do want to protect the health of our citizens," he said. "They didn't elect us so that we could kill them."

In a statement Monday, a spokesperson for the Trump transition team said, "Americans are sick and tired of the elites telling them what to do and how to do it. Our healthcare system in this country is broken, Mr. Kennedy will enact President Trump's agenda to restore the integrity of our healthcare and Make America Healthy Again."

Despite this, pharmaceutical industry executives and lobbyists have generally issued polite statements about working with both political parties, STAT reports.

"We want to work with the Trump administration to further strengthen out innovation ecosystem and improve health care for patients," said Stephen Ubl, CEO of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America.

Similarly, BIO, the largest trade group in the biotechnology industry, said the organization has focused on "constructive engagement with elected officials on both sides of the aisle" after the election.

"The public health, economic security and our national security are best served by strong leadership that respects and advances science, nutrition and medicine," a BIO spokesperson said. "We look forward to working with the new administration and Congress to advance and achieve these important goals."