Dr. Patrizia Cavazzoni

Dr. Cavazzoni joined the FDA in January 2018 as the Deputy Director for Operations at CDER, where she led several key initiatives on behalf of the organization. She also served as the Acting Deputy Commissioner for the FDA from January to February 2019.

Currently, Dr. Cavazzoni serves as the Director of CDER, overseeing much of the agency's drug review work. "Leaving CDER is an incredibly difficult decision, but now is the time for me to spend more time with my family," Cavazzoni wrote in an email to staff.

Before Dr. Cavazzoni's departure, several other senior FDA leaders announced plans to leave:

Dr. Namandjé Bumpus

Dr. Namandjé Bumpus, who served as FDA's Chief Deputy Commissioner, will leave by the end of 2024.

Dr. Doug Throckmorton

Dr. Doug Throckmorton, Deputy Director of FDA's Regulatory Programs, will retire in January 2025.

Dr. Robert Temple

It is common for government officials to transition when there is a change in administration. Looking at recent FDA shifts, Trump's election and his nominations for the next HHS Secretary and FDA Commissioner have indeed had an impact on the agency.

Previously, Trump nominated Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Dr. Marty Makary for HHS Secretary and FDA Commissioner, respectively. Both of them have publicly expressed some dissatisfaction with the current state of the FDA.

Currently, neither Kennedy nor Makary has been officially appointed and still need confirmation from the U.S. Senate.

References:

[2] Biopharma Dive Article