The former head of the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) drug division is joining Pfizer as its chief medical officer, the company announced Monday.
Patrizia Cavazzoni was formerly director of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) from 2020 until January, when she resigned just ahead of President Trump’s return to office.
Cavazzoni previously worked at Pfizer prior to joining the FDA in 2018.
The announcement spurred renewed criticisms about the common “revolving door” between the FDA and industry. Critics worry the close relationship leads to a quid pro quo and favoritism toward industry.
Robert Califf, who served as FDA commissioner under President Obama, left the agency to advise Google Health and its spinoff, Verily Life Sciences. The move garnered criticism and opposition from some Senate Democrats like Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) when President Biden nominated him for the same job.
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