Wyeth Consumer Healthcare, a division of Wyeth has announced that Isma Benattia, MD, has been named executive vice president, global research and development (R&D), effective immediately. Dr. Benattia will lead all aspects of the consumer division's global R&D organization. In her new role, she will drive and prioritize the division's R&D efforts to effectively bring new products to market and manage the regulatory environment for Wyeth's over-the-counter products.

Dr Benattia joins Wyeth Consumer Healthcare after serving at Wyeth Pharmaceuticals since 2003, where she most recently was vice president, global Labelling. During her time at Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, she also held the position of executive medical director, Neuroscience, where she played a leading role in managing scientific and regulatory issues involving Effexor, Wyeth's second largest brand in terms of global revenue.

Prior to joining Wyeth, Dr Benattia led global clinical programmes for major products at Pfizer and Eli Lilly. Prior to joining the pharmaceutical industry, she was a practicing psychiatrist at the Pitie-Salpetriere and Bobigny University Hospitals in Paris.

Dr Benattia holds master's degrees in Pharmacology and Psychotropic Drugs (Paris IX University); Methodology of Clinical Research (Paris XI Lariboisiere University); and Medical and Marketing Management (Paris XIII University). She earned her medical degree and Board Certification in Psychiatry from the University of Algiers and has been widely published in leading psychiatric journals.