Pfizer names former FDA director as chief medical officer

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(Reuters) – Pfizer on Monday named the former head of the U.S. health regulator’s drug evaluation unit, Patrizia Cavazzoni, as its chief medical officer, bringing back an industry veteran to lead its regulatory and drug safety operations.

Cavazzoni, who stepped down from her role at the Food and Drug Administration in January, was among the top officials who left ahead of the new administration under President Donald Trump.

She will succeed Aida Habtezion, who will depart the company to pursue other opportunities, and will report to Chris Boshoff, Pfizer’s chief scientific officer and R&D head.

Cavazzoni headed clinical sciences and development operations across multiple senior roles in her previous stint at Pfizer.

She has also held several senior executive positions in the pharmaceutical industry for nearly two decades, including at Eli Lilly and Sanofi.

Cavazzoni joined the FDA in 2018 and became director of its Center for Drug Evaluation and Research in 2021, where she led the regulatory and policy decisions on prescription and over-the-counter medicines.

Former U.S. FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb is a member of Pfizer’s board.

Earlier this month, Pfizer hired former Novartis executive Jeffrey Legos as its chief oncology officer.

Pfizer is going “all in” to develop its experimental obesity drug and has been recruiting more experts in that area, CEO Albert Bourla said in January.

The drugmaker, struggling since the windfall from demand for its COVID-19 vaccine and treatment, has faced criticism from activist investor Starboard Value over its big acquisitions, as well as its disappointing internal research and development operations.

(Reporting by Sriparna Roy in Bengaluru; Editing by Shailesh Kuber and Sriraj Kalluvila)