Richard Pazdur Named as Head of New Oncology Center for Excellence

FDA Commissioner Robert Califf has appointed Richard Pazdur to serve as acting director of the agency’s new Oncology Center of Excellence, which will play a role in Vice President Joe Biden’s Cancer Moonshot initiative.

Pazdur — who previously served as the director of the Office of Hematology and Oncology Products in CDER — will work to facilitate engagement and collaboration among patient-focused advocacy groups, professional associations, industry, academia and other federal agencies.

The Oncology Center of Excellence will work to streamline the development of new combination products to fight cancer through the sharing of ideas, information and best practices.