Article Summary:
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has appointed Richard Pazdur, a 26-year veteran of the agency, to lead its Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. Pazdur, who was the first director of the FDA’s Oncology Center of Excellence (OCE), will take on this role after the departure of the former director, George Tidmarsh, who resigned amid an investigation into his alleged conduct involving a social media post targeting a product made by a company chaired by a former business associate.
The appointment of Pazdur, described as a “true regulatory innovator” by FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, comes at a tumultuous time for the agency. Earlier this year, the Trump administration’s reduction-in-force efforts led to thousands of layoffs across the FDA, and the agency has witnessed the departure of many of its long-time leaders.
Pazdur, who has a track record of success and is known as an impressive forward-thinking scientist, has previously taught medicine at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center and has published extensively in the field of medical oncology. He expressed his honor at leading the FDA’s largest center at this pivotal moment, stating that he looks forward to working closely with Dr. Makary and the agency’s medical experts to help the country reach its peak in drug development.