Former FDA oncology chief says political turmoil opens chance to reshape agency amid rising Chinese competition

Rick Pazdur, who led oncology reviews at the FDA, told a STAT audience at the American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting that recent political appointments have caused significant disruption at the agency.

He argued that this disruption provides a rare opportunity to redesign the FDA’s structure, staffing and processes rather than simply restoring the old model.

Pazdur also noted that the rapid growth of China’s drug industry adds pressure for the FDA to evolve in order to stay competitive on a global scale.