Aquestive Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: AQST) appointed Thomas A. Zalewski as chief legal officer and chief compliance officer, effective April 2, 2026. Zalewski will succeed Lori J. Braender, who will transition to a non-executive role as corporate secretary after nearly eight years in the chief legal officer position.

Zalewski currently serves as a partner and chair of the healthcare and life sciences practice at Day Pitney LLP, where he has advised life sciences and healthcare companies on strategic, commercial and regulatory matters. He previously worked as a senior legal team member at Dendrite International Inc., now known as IQVIA.

"His deep expertise in life sciences law, his track record advising companies at critical stages of their development, and his familiarity with our Company make him ideally suited to support our mission," said Daniel Barber, president and chief executive officer of Aquestive.

Zalewski holds a bachelor's degree from Rutgers University and a law degree from Seton Hall University School of Law. He has experience in mergers and acquisitions, licensing, intellectual property transactions, corporate governance and regulatory matters.

Under the company's 2022 Equity Inducement Plan, Zalewski will receive 100,000 restricted stock units and 75,000 non-qualified stock options. The awards will be granted on the second trading day following the next quarterly or annual financial results release, with vesting over three years.

Braender joined Aquestive in September 2018 and previously spent 35 years as an attorney at Day Pitney LLP. The Warren, New Jersey-based pharmaceutical company develops medicines using oral film delivery technologies and is advancing treatments for severe allergic reactions and dermatological conditions.