NSF International, which develops standards as well as tests and certifies products , has completed the acquisition of Becker & Associates Consulting.
Becker & Associates, a clinical and scientific consulting firm, provides regulatory services to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-regulated medical devices, pharmaceuticals and biologics industries.
Under the acquisition, Becker will become part of NSF's health sciences division, which provides training and education, consulting, GMP and GLP testing, certification, R&D and auditing services for the medical device, pharmaceutical and dietary supplement industries.
Becker & Associates CEO Ron Ginor said, "The partnership between NSF International and Becker comes at a time when the U.S. FDA is actively warning manufacturers and patients about the need for enhanced systems to ensure the safety of medical devices and pharmaceuticals."
Becker Consulting president and FDA Center for Devices and Radiological Health former director Ron Johnson said the medical device and pharmaceutical sectors are in a period of flux following a number of significant regulatory changes.
"As part of NSF's Health Sciences Division, we are able to help our clients not only meet FDA compliance but to educate their professionals to stay in compliance by leveraging the vast experience and resources of NSF International," Johnson added.
NSF International president and CEO Kevan Lawlor said, "Combining Becker's market-leading FDA experience with NSF International's unsurpassed training, education, testing and certification expertise will further position NSF as a vital resource in the global pharmaceutical and medical device industries and as a critical partner in the assurance of safer drugs and devices for the public."