Bridging the Gap in Infectious Disease: Meet Arjan van Manen
For over 20 years, Arjan van Manen has operated at the sharp end of life sciences - navigating the complexities of drug launches at Bristol Myers Squibb and Takeda, and shaping global commercial strategies in the diagnostics space.
Now, as Ecraid’s Head of Business Development, he is focused on one of the most persistent challenges in modern medicine: the disconnect between urgent clinical need and the realities of infectious disease investment.
Beyond the Industry Perspective
Arjan’s arrival at Ecraid in Q1 2026 was driven by a clear professional conviction. Having spent years in oncology and immunology, he is acutely aware that the infectious disease field is often viewed as a "difficult" area for investment.
From an industry perspective, development is complex, patient populations are fragmented, and commercial returns are less predictable,” Arjan explains. “But the unmet need is undeniable. Patients are still suffering from infections that occur during otherwise successful treatments. That disconnect is something we need to address collectively.
Reducing Complexity in Clinical Development
Rather than viewing Ecraid as a traditional clinical research network, Arjan sees it as a platform for evidence generation and clinical development acceleration.
“Ecraid is uniquely positioned because of its ‘warm-base’ model - combining an active pan-European clinical network with continuous observational studies and embedded scientific leadership.”
“This means we are not starting from zero with each study. We already understand patient pathways, site capabilities, and disease dynamics in real-world settings.”
By integrating real-world data, site-level expertise, and leading clinicians, Ecraid enables:
- Faster and more reliable feasibility assessments
- More informed and realistic study designs
- Accelerated site activation and recruitment
- Stronger alignment between trial design and clinical practice
“Ultimately, this allows us to de-risk clinical development - not just operationally, but strategically.”
A key differentiator lies in Ecraid’s network of Clinical Liaisons across Europe.
“Patient pathways differ significantly between countries, and those differences directly impact study feasibility and execution,” Arjan notes.
“Our Clinical Liaisons provide deep, local insight into healthcare systems, referral patterns, and site capabilities. That allows us to design studies that are not only scientifically robust, but also operationally viable in each country.”
The Essence of Business Development
"For me, business development is about building long-term partnerships,” Arjan says.
“But it goes beyond relationships; it’s about understanding how we can create genuine strategic value for our partners within their development strategy."
“By engaging with stakeholders across industry, academia, and public health, we gain a clearer view of where the real challenges lie. That allows us to position Ecraid not just as a network, but as a partner in evidence generation and clinical development.
By working closely with stakeholders across industry, academia, and public health, Ecraid positions itself as:
- A partner in study design, not just execution
- A bridge between real-world evidence and interventional trials
- A platform that supports development across the full lifecycle
Let’s Connect
Arjan’s ambition is for Ecraid to become the natural partner for research in Europe - not just for execution, but for shaping how studies are designed to succeed.
Are you heading to ESCMID Global 2026?
Arjan will be on the ground in Munich to discuss how Ecraid can help solve your specific recruitment bottlenecks and de-risk your development strategy.
- Connect with Arjan on LinkedIn to schedule a sit-down or start the conversation