Regulatory Affairs (RA), also called Government Affairs, is a profession within regulated industries, such as pharmaceuticals, medical devices, energy, and banking. Pharmaceutical companies use all the data accumulated during discovery and development stages in order to register the drug and thus market the drug. Regulatory Affairs Specialists assist in obtaining and maintaining government approval for drugs, medical devices, nutritional products, and related materials. They are often employed by pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device companies. They may also work in government or law.