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Peter Thiel, the iconoclastic Silicon Valley mogul who has been advising President-elect Donald Trump on technology policy, has become deeply involved in vetting candidates for other health and science posts in the administration, according to individuals familiar with his role. Thiel, who has already advanced a candidate to lead the Food and Drug Administration, has been discussing possibilities with other prospective appointees about a variety of health and science jobs. Among others, he recently spoke with Elias Zerhouni, a former director of the National Institutes of Health and president of global research and development for Sanofi, about a top White House science job. (Kaplan and Scott, 12/20)

Rep. Tom Price, who is President-elect Donald Trump’s choice to be Health and Human Services secretary, sold shares of once high-flying biotech company Gilead Sciences Inc. in March, while buying those of marquee drugmakers including Pfizer Inc. and Eli Lilly & Co. They are among the latest trades reported by Price, a Georgia Republican who’s long been an investor in medical stocks, according to congressional filings. Members of Congress are allowed to buy and sell shares, even if the committees on which they serve have a direct bearing on federal policies affecting companies whose stock they own. (Young, 12/21)

Congressman Andy Harris of Maryland has not had a formal interview with President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team for National Institutes of Health director or any other position in the administration, he told STAT. “I’m not making a pitch,” Harris said in an interview. “I just made it clear to some folks who do health care with the Trump team that I would be willing to help, if they thought I could help in any way.” Harris pointed to three positions in particular that he’s not pitching himself for: NIH director, surgeon general, and the head of the Office of National Drug Control Policy. (Facher, 12/20)