Richard Pazdur

Director, FDA Oncology Center of Excellence

Appears in 1 story

Office: Director of Center for Drug Evaluation and Research

Education: Northwestern University, Stritch School of Medicine

Last updated Nov 2, 2026

Stories

FDA panel weighs blood-test-guided early drug switch for breast cancer

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As of May 2026: Oversees the review process behind today's hearing

For decades, oncologists changed breast cancer drugs only after a scan showed the tumor growing back. On April 30, 2026, an FDA advisory panel weighed a different approach: switch the drug the moment a blood test detects the resistance mutation — weeks or months before the cancer becomes visible on imaging.

Updated May 31