KGK Science Receives Strategic Growth Investment to Expand Clinical Research, Regulatory Capabilities

KGK Science, a London, Ontario-based contract research organization (CRO) that conducts clinical trials and offers regulatory services to the dietary supplement, nutraceutical, functional food, and health product industries, announced that it has secured a growth investment led by Maxim Partners, a Chicago-based firm that partners with education and wellness founders and managers. The financial details of the transaction, which closed on June 30, were not disclosed.

KGK was founded in 1997 to help consumer nutrition brands substantiate product claims and ensure products are safe and effective. It offers centralized trials, flexible virtual trials, customized hybrid trial designs, and a suite of regulatory services to help clients enter North American markets and navigate regulations. The company has conducted over 400 clinical trials, evaluated more than 40 health indications, and has produced over 150 peer-reviewed publications.

The investment comes during a period of change for the nutrition industry, KGK noted. There’s heightened regulatory scrutiny over unsubstantiated marketing claims, anticipated changes to food ingredient safety review, the release of the finalized New Dietary Ingredient (NDI) guidance, recent FDA guidance on future NDI enforcement, evolving front-of-package labeling requirements, retailer-led initiatives to elevate consumer confidence, and a rising demand for validated consumer self-care products.

“I founded KGK to address a growing and underserved need to bring scientific rigor to the marketing of nutritional supplements. This partnership with Maxim is a powerful endorsement of what our team has built and of the growing role that credible science plays in this market. Maxim’s deep expertise across nutrition and within the nutraceutical testing market makes them ideally suited to help the KGK team scale our clinical and regulatory capabilities to meet growing demand from brands worldwide,” said Najla Guthrie, founder and CEO.

Guthrie and the existing KGK leadership team will continue their roles. The growth investment will support expanded clinical trial capacity, the development of virtual trial technology, and the expansion of KGK’s regulatory services.

“KGK has created an outstanding reputation for scientific rigor, technical expertise, and regulatory knowledge,” said Gregg Wilson, founder and managing partner of Maxim Partners. “Their commitment to driving brand distinction, lawful market entry, and federal compliance is a unique proposition sought by leading brands. We are impressed by the quality of the team, strength of the platform, and trusted relationships they have built with customers around the world. We are excited to partner with Najla and the KGK team to build on the exceptional platform they have created and support the company’s next phase of growth.”