Craig M. Audet has been appointed senior vice president of operations and head of global regulatory affairs at Arena Pharmaceuticals. Mr. Audet will also serve as an executive officer of the company.
 
Mr. Audet will oversee various operations, including investor relations and alliance management, and will continue to lead regulatory affairs. He joined the company in April 2011 as vice president of regulatory affairs, and has led interactions with the FDA and EMA for Belviq, an adjunct to a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity for chronic weight management. The drug is currently under review by the EMA.
 
"This promotion recognizes Craig's key role in the FDA's approval of Belviq," said Jack Lief, Arena's president and chief executive officer. "We have benefited from his experience and track record of successful regulatory strategies and submissions, and we are delighted that he will play an expanded role in advancing Arena in the next phase of the company's development."
 
Mr. Audet has more than 25 years of industry experience. Prior to joining the company, he was vice president and head of the U.S. Regulatory Affairs Marketed Products Group at Sanofi-Aventis from 2003 to 2008, and was the cardiovascular global therapeutic area leader at Pfizer.