Richard Pazdur has filed paperwork to retire as director of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) after only weeks in the role. Multiple reports indicate Pazdur notified CDER leadership of his intention to leave at month-end, compounding turbulence at the agency already facing high-profile policy debates and internal memos. The move could slow or reshape priorities at CDER during a critical period of vaccine-policy review and high-volume regulatory filings. Pazdur is a well-known regulatory figure whose departures or staffing changes historically prompt immediate market and industry scrutiny given his influence on oncology and novel therapeutic reviews. Industry and investor stakeholders will watch interim leadership decisions and any shifts in review timelines for priority drugs. Regulatory watchers say rapid succession at CDER raises questions about continuity on ongoing reviews and agency strategy.