Rick Pazdur, MD, the newly appointed director for the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research at the FDA, has been described as “greyhound thin” as a result of his dedication to cycling and lifting weights in the gym each day and, for a long time, a vegetarian diet. I first met him when he was the director of the Office of Oncology Drug Products (ODP) within CDER, in 2009.
Edward Chu was an expert in pharmacology whose research improved therapies for colorectal cancer, leading to the identification of new treatment targets and driving scientific advances in the field.
Arnold Daniel “Arnie” Kaluzny, PhD, longtime adviser to NCI and an early pioneer and contributor to what is now known as health services research, died Oct. 29 at the age of 87.
When it comes to fighting cancer today, collaboration is key. At a time when funding is uncertain, yet innovative breakthroughs are accelerating every day, it’s more important than ever for oncologists, scientists, academic researchers, and community physicians, to come together to share knowledge and gain insights about the forefront of cancer research.
Richard Pazdur, FDA’s top oncologist who last week received a battlefield promotion to the role of director of the FDA Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, is described as a stabilizing figure respected by major patient groups, oncology professional societies, and the industry.
Rick Pazdur’s appointment as director of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) comes at exactly the right moment, both for the agency and for the patients it serves.
Top FDA officials said the agency is in the process of removing the black box safety warnings from all forms of menopausal hormone therapy, including creams, pills, and other treatments prescribed to ease the symptoms of menopause and perimenopause.
With the recent FDA approval of daratumumab for high-risk smoldering multiple myeloma, the moment is ripe to revisit the evolution of our understanding of smoldering multiple myeloma. This development not only underscores the growing recognition of early intervention but also invites a broader reflection on the biological insights and therapeutic strategies that have shaped—and continue to shape—this transitional disease state.
The landscape of cancer treatment is rapidly evolving. Increasingly, there is recognition that care must go beyond treating the disease itself—it must also address the whole person and the debilitating symptoms patients experience during and after treatment.
This year marks the Neuroendocrine Tumor Research Foundation’s 20th anniversary. Established as the Caring for Carcinoid Foundation by Nancy Lindholm in 2005, NETRF has served as one of the few funding sources for neuroendocrine cancers since its inception.
