FDA names longtime cancer scientist Pazdur to lead drug center
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday appointed a longtime regulator of cancer drugs to run the agency’s drug center. former pharmaceutical manager a person who has recently been dismissed ethical complaint.
26-year veteran of the agency, Dr. Richard Pazdur will be director of the FDA’s largest agency, the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. Pazdur, a cancer specialist, previously held numerous roles at the FDA, most recently leading the agency’s Oncology Center of Excellence.
Pazdur’s appointment came after federal ethics attorneys began reviewing “serious concerns about his personal conduct,” according to a government statement. It took place about a week after George Tidmarsh suddenly left the institution. Tidmarsh, a former pharmaceutical executive and scientist, told the agency FDA Commissioner Marty Makary.
A lawsuit filed earlier this month alleged that Tidmarsh used his position at the FDA to pursue a “long-standing personal revenge” against the chairman of the board of directors of a Canadian drugmaker. According to the lawsuit, the two men previously worked as business partners at various pharmaceutical companies.
Tidmarsh has denied any wrongdoing in media interviews. He did not respond to requests for comment sent to him and his attorney by The Associated Press.
Pazdur is one of the last members of the FDA’s senior leadership to survive months of retirements, firings, resignations and crackdowns. other actions Trump administration’s removal of long-term employees from the organization.
He will be tasked with stabilizing a unit broken by low morale, return-to-the-office orders and squabbles with other parts of the agency, including the vaccine and biologics center he leads. Dr. Vinay Prasad.
The FDA’s drug center lost more than 1,000 employees to layoffs or resignations last year, according to agency figures. The center is responsible for the review, safety and quality control of prescription and non-prescription drugs.
Pazdur will also inherit several new initiatives announced by Makary. coupon program It aims to review drugs deemed “national priority” in just one to two months. Previously, the FDA’s fastest drug reviews took six months.
Pazdur, the FDA’s top cancer expert, had previously overseen efforts on this issue. speed up approvals Development of experimental cancer treatments based on early measures such as tumor shrinkage. This approach has been criticized by many in academia, including Prasad, who has spent years publishing articles examining this issue. FDA’s approach He worked on cancer drugs before joining the agency earlier this year.
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