Support from POM Limburg allows Anima Research Center to expand testing capacity

With the support of POM Limburg, medical research centre Anima Research Center from Alken can further expand its testing capacity. POM sought and found additional space for the company, and it did so on the Health Campus in Diepenbeek. Anima is a world-renowned player in the testing of new drugs, and recently also vaccines. It recently grew to become the largest testing centre for Johnson & Johnson's COVID-19 vaccine. The new space will allow Anima to further expand its testing capacity for new research assignments. With the arrival of a global healthcare player, the tone for the Health Campus is immediately set.

Anima Research Centre has been one of the world's leaders in testing new brain drugs for more than 20 years. For some time, vaccine testing has been added. By testing the COVID-19 vaccines, the company recently experienced explosive growth. Both the corporate offices in Alken and the temporary space in the Mezzo Hotel in Beringen had become too cramped.

Chairman of POM Limburg and of Science Park Diepenbeek Tom Vandeput: "When we learned that Anima was looking for extra space, POM's Welcome Management team took immediate action. Two spacious buildings were still available on our future Health Campus in Diepenbeek, currently the Science Park. A short time later, the agreement in principle was in place."

A four-year lease was signed, for buildings 11 and 13 of the current Science Park.

Welcome move
The move to the Health Campus was welcome for Anima. The company currently has about 80 employees, but is growing exponentially. This is mainly to do with testing its COVID-19 vaccines. Anima is the largest testing centre for Johnson & Johnson, but also tests a vaccine from China's Clover. Vaccine testing against the RSV virus will soon be added, commissioned by GSK.

Dr Erik Buntinx, CEO and Principal Investigator of Anima Research Center: "POM's belief in the potential of our brainchild Anima Research Center, greatly pleases us as a born and bred Limburg family business. My extensive international experience in the world of big pharma has taught me one thing: think global, act local. And that is what POM has seamlessly sensed in this one."

Strategic move for Health Campus
The arrival of Anima in Diepenbeek is not a pragmatic decision, but an important strategic move.

Chairman Tom Vandeput: "The company fits in perfectly with the ambitions we, together with UHasselt, have formulated for the Health Campus. The campus will be the hub of innovation in healthcare, and an important lighthouse location for digicare, the digitalisation of healthcare. This both in Flanders and beyond. Limburg must therefore build world fame in the sector, and the arrival of a world player like Anima fits perfectly into this picture."

By decision dated 21 May 2021, the Science Park Board of Directors agreed to enter into a lease with Anima Research Centre for four years, starting from 1 June 2021, in buildings 11 and 13.