FDA drug chief signals possible exit as agency turmoil deepens

Richard Pazdur, the recently appointed head of the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER), has signaled a possible retirement, further destabilizing the agency. This follows a year of turmoil, including the departure of Pazdur's predecessor, George Tidmarsh, amid allegations of retaliation and concerns about a new rapid drug approval system. Internal conflicts, including clashes between Tidmarsh and Vinay Prasad, the director of the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER), have also contributed to the instability. Pazdur's potential departure raises concerns about finding a suitable replacement and implementing the new rapid approval program, which has been criticized for lacking proper planning and potentially politicizing regulatory decisions. The FDA is facing challenges due to numerous departures and internal disagreements.

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