Richard Pazdur, the long‑time FDA oncology veteran who stepped down last year, told the Wall Street Journal he was presented with a ready-made quote and asked to "just agree to it" amid agency moves to reduce clinical trial requirements. Pazdur said the change — shifting CDER to accept one pivotal trial instead of two — prompted his resignation and reflected an erosion of the historical separation between the commissioner's office and review staff. The report quotes HHS spokespeople defending Commissioner Marty Makary’s push as "urgent reform," while Pazdur warns of an uncertain regulatory future. The account names Pazdur’s prior roles, including founding director of the Oncology Center of Excellence, and cites internal friction when Makary tapped Pazdur to lead CDER. For industry readers, the episode signals potential shifts in evidentiary expectations, review autonomy, and the political exposure of senior reviewers — factors that could change trial design, regulatory timelines, and sponsor‑agency interactions.