The health and human services secretary nominee, after questions from Democrats, has agreed to transfer his stake in Gardasil personal-injury lawsuits.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. told senators he would apologize if data shows vaccines don’t cause autism, but he cited a poorly conducted study to counter the dozens that show they do not.

Kennedy Jr. is revising his ethics agreement to divest his interest in litigation against an HPV vaccine maker and directing the stake to his adult son, The New York Times reported Friday, citing a written response to questions from senators who are weighing his confirmation as Health and Human Services secretary.

Facing intense scrutiny from senators over his potential profit from vaccine lawsuits while serving as the nation's health secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said that if he is confirmed he will not collect fees from litigation against the drugmakers of a cervical cancer vaccine.

RFK Jr. said he would give up the fees after senators questioned him about the lawsuits in a pair of hearings.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s nomination to be the nation’s top health official is uncertain after a key Republican joined Democrats to raise persistent concerns over the nominee’s deep skepticism of routine childhood vaccinations that prevent deadly diseases.

During a sometimes contentious confirmation hearing, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. refused to confirm that he believes vaccines do not cause autism.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Trump’s nominee for Health and Human Services secretary, told senators Friday he will divest his financial stake in a lawsuit against pharmaceutical giant Merck over its vaccine that protects against human papillomavirus.