Anima Research Center

Anima Research Center operates as a clinical trials specialist, facilitating the development of new medicines for pharmaceutical companies. Established in 2018 by Dr. Erik Buntinx, a psychiatrist with over 25 years of experience in clinical and pharmacological research, the company is headquartered in Alken, Belgium. Dr. Buntinx serves as the CEO and Principal Investigator, leveraging his extensive background as a Key Opinion Leader in global drug development to guide the company. His work has involved several thousand patients in clinical trials over three decades, leading to globally used medications.

The company's core business involves conducting clinical trials across various phases (Phase 0 to Phase III) for a portfolio of top-tier pharmaceutical clients, including Johnson & Johnson and MSD. Anima manages trials for a range of therapeutic areas such as central nervous system disorders, women's health, sleep disorders, cardiovascular and lung diseases, and skin conditions. Revenue is generated by providing these specialized clinical trial services. The business model is distinguished by its high efficiency in patient recruitment and retention, significantly outperforming industry averages. Anima maintains a patient adherence rate of 97% and leverages a proprietary database of over 10,000 patients, which allows for targeted and high-quality recruitment for studies.

Anima's key service is the management and execution of clinical trials, from patient screening and dosing to monitoring. Operating from two sites in Alken and Diepenbeek, which cover over 2,000 square meters, the firm provides the necessary infrastructure for these studies. A significant milestone was achieved in December 2024 when Anima Research received an equity investment from BNP Paribas Fortis Private Equity. This investment, which resulted in the private equity firm becoming a minority shareholder, is intended to fuel the company's expansion across Europe, with plans to open facilities in the Netherlands in 2025 and Germany in 2026, and potential for future growth into the United States.

Keywords: clinical trials, pharmaceutical services, drug development, patient recruitment, clinical research organization, CNS disorders, investigator services, phase I-IV trials, trial management, Belgium life science, patient retention, clinical study conduct, pharmacological research, therapeutic area expertise, trial site management, pharmaceutical partnerships, clinical operations, medical research, European clinical trials, drug efficacy studies