FDA drug chief signals possible exit as agency turmoil deepens

The top drug regulator in the US signaled on Tuesday he may retire weeks after accepting the position, adding to upheaval in the highest ranks of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

If Richard Pazdur retires, finding a replacement would be challenging amid mounting political pressure and internal conflict at the agency, sources say.

"Who else is left? He was the one person who was identified," said Janet Woodcock, former acting commissioner of the FDA. "There's been a lot of departures, and it would be hard to find a substitute now with all this turmoil."

Filing papers is the first step for retiring, but Pazdur could still choose to stay at the agency.