Eric Cantor, a former Republican representative from Virginia, has been appointed as the new president and CEO of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), the organization announced on Tuesday.
According to the press release, Cantor will officially start in his new position on November 9. He had represented Virginia’s 7th congressional district in the U.S. House from 2000 until 2014, notably serving as House majority leader from 2011 to 2014. However, he faced a surprising defeat in his re-election bid that year.
Rob Davis, chair of the PhRMA Board of Directors, expressed confidence in Cantor’s capabilities, stating, “Eric is well respected among policy leaders in Washington and globally, having a proven history of effective cross-party collaboration to achieve significant, lasting results.” He highlighted Cantor’s blend of business knowledge and high-level political experience as ideal for leading the organization at this pivotal time.
Davis also mentioned the board’s eagerness to collaborate with Cantor on initiatives that foster innovation in American biopharmaceuticals and enhance patient access to medications.
When asked for comments, a PhRMA spokesperson directed inquiries back to the press release issued on Tuesday.
As of yet, Cantor has not responded to requests for comment from the Daily Caller News Foundation.
We are excited to announce Eric Cantor as our next president and CEO.
Eric is well respected among policy leaders in Washington and around the world, with a long track record of working effectively across the political spectrum in support of biomedical research and patients’…
— PhRMA (@PhRMA) September 29, 2026
Following his surprising 2014 primary loss to Tea Party candidate Dave Brat—where he was considered a likely contender for the Speaker of the House—Cantor’s political career took a different turn. Brat later lost his seat in the 2018 elections to Abigail Spanberger, who is now the Democratic governor of Virginia.
Since his exit from Congress, Cantor has been working as vice chairman and managing director at Moelis & Company, a global investment bank, as noted in the release.
PhRMA’s announcement also highlighted Cantor’s involvement in the passage of the 21st Century Cures Act, a significant, bipartisan bill that increased funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and included reforms aimed at expediting FDA medicine approvals.
“The American biopharmaceutical industry is at the forefront of innovation,” Cantor remarked. “PhRMA member companies are engaged in cutting-edge science and technology in pursuit of new treatments and cures for various diseases.”
“I’m thrilled to join the industry in its mission to enhance patient access, utilize AI for faster discoveries, and advocate for the numerous Americans in the biopharmaceutical sector whose work is vital for extending and saving lives,” he added.
This announcement follows PhRMA’s earlier news in April, where they revealed that their current president and CEO, Stephen Ubl, planned to resign at the end of 2026.
