Pfizer on Monday named the former head of the U.S. health regulator's drug evaluation unit, Patrizia Cavazzoni, as its chief medical officer, bringing back an industry veteran to lead its regulatory and drug safety operations.

Patrizia Cavazzoni, formerly the top regulator of the drug division of the FDA, will join Pfizer as chief medical officer.

Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) has tapped Patrizia Cavazzoni, the former head of drug regulation at the FDA, as its new chief medical officer. Cavazzoni was most recently director of the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) at the U.