Pfizer has appointed Patrizia Cavazzoni, the former head of the US Food and Drug Administration’s drug evaluation unit, as its new chief medical officer. Cavazzoni will lead regulatory and drug safety operations at Pfizer, replacing Aida Habtezion who is departing to pursue other opportunities.
Cavazzoni brings nearly two decades of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, including senior roles at Eli Lilly and Sanofi. She previously led clinical sciences and development operations at Pfizer before joining the FDA in 2018. As director of the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, she oversaw regulatory and policy decisions on prescription and over-the-counter medicines.
The appointment comes as Pfizer seeks to develop its experimental obesity drug, a priority area for the company. CEO Albert Bourla has stated that the company is “all in” on this initiative, with plans to recruit more experts in the field.
Cavazzoni’s hiring follows the recent recruitment of former Novartis executive Jeffrey Legos as chief oncology officer, highlighting Pfizer’s efforts to strengthen its research and development capabilities.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/pfizer-names-former-fda-director-patrizia-cavazzoni-chief-medical-officer-2025-02-24