George Tidmarsh resigned as director of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research after being placed on administrative leave amid an HHS probe into his conduct. The departure leaves CDER without a permanent leader just months after Tidmarsh’s appointment and follows a spate of senior departures and internal controversy. The agency said it expects high ethical standards, while industry watchers flagged near‑term uncertainty in regulatory decision‑making. The rapid leadership churn at CDER creates operational risk for sponsors awaiting reviews and for ongoing high‑profile submissions. FDA officials and outside observers warned the episode could amplify existing anxieties about consistency and timing in the drug‑approval process.