The FDA’s drug review center lost its director after George Tidmarsh was placed on administrative leave and then resigned as the Department of Health and Human Services opened a probe into his conduct. The abrupt departure follows earlier leadership churn and has left the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research without a long‑term head. The personnel upheaval is drawing scrutiny from industry and investors because it increases uncertainty around review timelines and policy continuity for high‑stakes submissions across gene therapy, oncology and other priority areas.