New Leader Takes Charge at FDA's Drug Division

The FDA has picked Dr. Richard Pazdur to head up its drug division. He's been with the agency for 26 years and is well-respected. This move comes after a rough patch for the FDA, with lots of staff leaving and morale taking a hit. Dr. Pazdur is known for approving many new cancer drugs. These drugs have helped patients and made a lot of money for the companies that make them. Now, he's in charge of the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, or CDER. This is the part of the FDA that handles most prescription and over-the-counter medicines. The CDER has been through a lot lately. It lost about 1, 000 employees this year due to layoffs, buyouts, and people leaving for better jobs in the pharmaceutical industry. Another division of the FDA, which handles vaccines and gene therapies, has also seen its share of trouble. Dr. Pazdur said he's honored to lead CDER during a time of big changes in drug regulation. He wants to help the country reach its full potential in drug development. His predecessor, Dr. George Tidmarsh, stepped down recently. Tidmarsh had been critical of a new fast-track approval program, saying it could lead to political interference.