Patrizia Cavazzoni Rejoins Pfizer as Chief Medical Officer and Executive Vice President

On February 24, 2025, Pfizer Inc. announced that Patrizia Cavazzoni, M.D., will return to the company as Chief Medical Officer and Executive Vice President.

In this position, Dr. Cavazzoni will oversee Pfizer’s regulatory affairs, pharmacovigilance, safety, epidemiology, medical information, and evidence generation, along with other key medical functions. She will report directly to Chris Boshoff, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer and President of Pfizer Research and Development. Dr. Cavazzoni will succeed Aida Habtezion, M.D., MSc, FRCPC, AGAF, who is departing from Pfizer to explore new opportunities.

Leadership in the FDA and Pharmaceutical Industry

Dr. Patrizia Cavazzoni previously served as the director of the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). She joined the FDA in January 2018 as CDER’s Deputy Director for Operations, where she led several critical initiatives for the organization. Additionally, she held the position of Acting Principal Deputy Commissioner of Food and Drugs from January to February 2019.

Before joining CDER, Dr. Cavazzoni spent nearly two decades in senior executive roles within the pharmaceutical industry, including positions at Pfizer, Eli Lilly, and Sanofi. During her previous time at Pfizer, she led clinical sciences and development operations across various senior roles within the company.

Education and Early Career

Dr. Cavazzoni earned her medical degree from McGill University and completed her residency in psychiatry and a fellowship in mood disorders at the University of Ottawa. During her training, she was involved in clinical trials for novel antipsychotic and antidepressant medications and became a research collaborator with the International Group for the Study of Lithium Treated Patients. Following her training, she was appointed as a full-time faculty member at the University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Medicine and joined the Mood Disorders Program at the Royal Ottawa Hospital. There, she treated patients with severe mood disorders, taught students, and conducted research on genetic predictors of bipolar disorder as part of an international collaborative team, publishing numerous peer-reviewed scientific papers.

After transitioning from academia, Dr. Cavazzoni spent several years in the pharmaceutical industry, where she held senior executive roles in clinical development, regulatory affairs, and safety risk management across various therapeutic areas before joining the FDA.

Dr. Cavazzoni is board-certified by the American Board of Neurology and Psychiatry, having received certifications in 1997 and 2008. She is also a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, the Canadian College of Neuropsychopharmacology, and a recipient of the Laughlin Fellowship from the American College of Psychiatrists.

Chris Boshoff Welcomes Dr. Patrizia Cavazzoni Back to Pfizer

Chris Boshoff, Chief Scientific Officer and President of Research and Development at Pfizer took to LinkedIn to welcome Dr. Patrizia Cavazzoni back to the company in her new role as Chief Medical Officer.

In his post, Boshoff highlighted Dr. Cavazzoni’s extensive experience and leadership in clinical development, pharmacovigilance, and R&D strategy, stating:

“Patrizia is the perfect leader to take on this work, with more than 25 years of experience in clinical development, pharmacovigilance, clinical operations, and R&D strategy.”

Boshoff expressed his enthusiasm for her return, adding:

“Patrizia brings to this role her energy and enthusiasm, and I very much look forward to working with her and the excellent team she will lead in advancing the next generation of potential breakthrough medicines and vaccines at Pfizer.”

Other people also have expressed their excitement and congratulations to her on social media regarding her new position. Here are some of the messages:

Albert Bourla, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Pfizer, wrote on LinkedIn:

“Welcome to Pfizer as our new Chief Medical Officer, Patrizia Cavazzoni!

Dr. Cavazzoni has extensive experience developing medicines across a range of therapeutic areas and is an ideal leader to help advance our portfolio. I’m confident that her expertise and experience will drive progress within our world-class medical and safety teams as we take on some of the biggest health challenges of our time.”

Ronald Goh, Head of Drug Development, Pfizer Singapore, shared on LinkedIn:

“I was very excited to see Pfizer announce the appointment of former FDA head Patrizia Cavazzoni as its new Chief Medical Officer! As a member of the healthcare industry, I have always been interested in how regulation and innovation go hand in hand. Cavazzoni’s rich background will undoubtedly inject new impetus into Pfizer and help the company continue to promote R&D innovation while ensuring compliance. I look forward to seeing her outstanding performance in her new role, and I also look forward to Pfizer’s continuous breakthroughs and leading the industry in the future.”

Dr. Cavazzoni’s return to Pfizer brings experienced leadership to the company’s medical and regulatory functions as she takes on the role of Chief Medical Officer.

Looking Ahead

Dr. Cavazzoni’s return to Pfizer marks a new chapter in the company’s medical and regulatory leadership, with a focus on advancing innovation in patient care. Her expertise and leadership will play a key role in shaping Pfizer’s future in clinical development, safety, and regulatory strategy.