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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
Media Inquiries: Lenore
Gelb |
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today announced that Richard Pazdur, M.D., F.A.C.P. will lead its newly established Office of Oncology Drug Products within the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER). Dr. Pazdur is an experienced medical oncologist who has spent more than 20 years in leadership roles working on solutions to the complex issues in cancer drug development.
"Dr. Pazdur brings tremendous energy and innovative ideas to this very important position," said FDA's Dr. Steven Galson, Acting Director, CDER. "Dr. Pazdur's work will benefit cancer patients everywhere and reaffirm FDA's ongoing commitment to improving the efficiency and consistency of product development and review, so cancer patients will have access as quickly as possible to quality new treatments."
FDA recently announced the establishment of the Office of Oncology Drug Products to be housed in CDER. This office is a consolidation of three previous areas within CDER responsible for the oversight of drugs and therapeutic biologics associated with cancer treatment and prevention, including the Division of Oncology Drug Products that Dr. Pazdur currently heads. Additional areas of the Office's oversight will include the Division of Oncology Biologic Products and the Division of Medical Imaging and Hematology Drug Products. The Office will also develop and lead a comprehensive Oncology Program to facilitate coordination of oncology activities across all Centers of FDA, and ensure ongoing outreach and collaboration between FDA, the National Cancer Institute and other cancer-related organizations within and outside of the government.
"I am honored to have been selected from such a highly qualified group of applicants," said Dr. Pazdur. "I look forward to working with Acting Commissioner Crawford, Dr. Galson and the talented and dedicated scientists who will comprise the office to realize FDA's vision for it."
In announcing the appointment, Dr. Galson said Dr. Pazdur is uniquely qualified to lead FDA's efforts to provide for an even stronger and more consistent approach to the development and review process for therapeutic products used to diagnose, treat, and prevent cancer. Dr. Pazdur will continue to work closely with the cancer community to ensure that FDA has the most effective and efficient development and review processes possible to ensure the safety and effectiveness of life-saving and life-enhancing treatments for cancer patients.
Dr. Pazdur has a distinguished career in clinical and academic oncology, in addition to his experience as a regulatory expert at FDA. A native of Indiana, he obtained his M.D. from Loyola Stritch School of Medicine, where he also trained in Internal Medicine. He was a fellow in oncology at Rush Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center and the University of Chicago. Dr. Pazdur has served as a practicing oncologist, researcher and teacher at Wayne State University and for many years at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center at the University of Texas, where he was a tenured Professor of Medicine and Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs.
Dr. Pazdur is well known in the oncology community as a strong scientific leader who is committed to the care and treatment of patients with cancer. He is a member of many oncology professional societies and has served on numerous local, state, national and international committees focused on cancer treatment, drug development, patient education and chemoprevention. Since coming to FDA, Dr. Pazdur has collaborated extensively with the leaders at the National Cancer Institute on many aspects of facilitating sound and rapid product development for cancer treatment and prevention.
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