Rick Pazdur urges FDA overhaul as China drug rivals
Get the Health newsletter
Daily health & science — research, biotech, public health, the studies worth knowing. Free.
- Rick Pazdur said the FDA suffered “a lot of destruction” under leaders appointed by the Trump administration.
- Rick Pazdur said the current turmoil offers a chance to redesign the FDA’s staff, structure, and leadership rather than simply restoring the pre‑Trump status quo.
- Rick Pazdur suggested hiring academics and industry professionals on one‑ or two‑year contracts to replenish the agency’s expertise.
- Rick Pazdur warned that China’s drug industry is becoming increasingly competitive, heightening the need for a stronger FDA.
Why it matters: Biotech firms gain a more agile FDA that can keep pace with fast‑growing Chinese drug makers; patients benefit from quicker approvals, while the agency recovers expertise lost under recent political appointments.
