AACR Applauds Selection of Richard Pazdur, MD, as Director of the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration

PHILADELPHIA – The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) today congratulated Richard Pazdur, MD, on his appointment as Director of the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This important center is charged with regulating most prescription drugs and over-the-counter medicines.

“This is great news for all Americans who are relying on the FDA to approve safe and effective prescription drugs and over-the-counter medicines. There is no one more qualified than Dr. Pazdur for this important position,” said Margaret Foti, PhD, MD (hc), chief executive officer of the AACR. “Dr. Pazdur has provided extraordinary leadership during his 26 years at the FDA, including as the founding Director of its Oncology Center of Excellence. His embrace of regulatory science has improved the way in which new cancer medicines are evaluated for their safety and efficacy. Dr. Pazdur’s wealth of expertise, experience, scientific integrity, and compassion will help ensure that the FDA continues its outstanding leadership in approving highly innovative and impactful treatments for all patients.”

In addition to his new role as Director of CDER, Pazdur will continue to serve as Director of the FDA Oncology Center of Excellence (OCE), which he established in 2017. By bringing together oncology experts from across the FDA under the auspices of OCE, Pazdur has strengthened communication, efficiency, and productivity in the review and regulation of novel cancer therapeutics for the benefit of researchers, drug developers, oncologists, and, most importantly, patients. Throughout his time at the FDA, Pazdur has spearheaded countless efforts to accelerate and streamline cancer drug development during this transformational era of rapid change and remarkable breakthroughs in cancer research and treatment.

Pazdur was honored at the AACR Annual Meeting 2025 with the AACR Enduring Impact Award for Transformative Service to Cancer Science and Medicine. Prior to joining the FDA, he was professor of medicine at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. He has published more than 800 articles, book chapters, and abstracts, as well as two medical oncology textbooks.