Contact Us
Case study

Proxima Clinical Research (Proxima CRO)

Founded in 2019 just before the global pandemic, Proxima Clinical Research entered the competitive contract research organization (CRO) market dominated by global giants such as LabCorp, IQVIA, ICON, and Thermo Fisher.
Client
Proxima Clinical Research (Proxima CRO)

From Startup to Industry Authority in Three Years

Executive Summary

Founded in 2019, Proxima Clinical Research (Proxima CRO) entered the highly competitive contract research organization (CRO) market dominated by billion-dollar giants such as LabCorp, ICON, and IQVIA. With a dual focus on serving underfunded innovators and large pharmaceutical and device companies, Proxima CRO needed to quickly establish credibility, visibility, and differentiation. Engagement PR & Marketing stepped in as the company’s fractional VP of Marketing & Communications, coaching and working alongside the young and talented internal team to build a brand that transformed Proxima CRO from an unknown entrant to a nationally recognized authority. In just three years, Proxima achieved 65+ media placements, inclusion in 70+ analyst reports, 25+ national and international awards including Inc. 5000, and industry-wide recognition as one of the most innovative CROs in the market.

Client Background

Located in the heart of the Texas Medical Center, Proxima CRO was founded in 2019, just prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, with a bold mission: to guide MedTech, BioTech, Pharmaceutical, and Device innovators through the FDA process and help bring world-changing products to market. Unlike traditional CROs that catered primarily to large, well-funded organizations, Proxima CRO’s model served both scrappy startups and global corporations, positioning themselves as “The Superheroes to the Superheroes” of healthcare innovation.

The Challenge

  • Building credibility in a conservative industry – CROs are trusted only after proving experience, expertise, and compliance. As a new player, Proxima CRO needed visible third-party validation.
  • Creating visibility and awareness – The brand needed recognition not just among startup inventors but also among investors, analysts, and major pharma companies considering partnerships.

Engagement PR & Marketing’s Role

  • Strategic brand positioning and storytelling
  • Media relations and analyst engagement
  • Awards strategy and submissions
  • Speaking, events, and thought leadership placements
  • Digital marketing, creative development, and SEO
  • Launch campaigns for new platforms and programs

Strategic Approach

  • Media Visibility & Thought Leadership – 65+ media placements including WSJ, Forbes, and MedTech News. CEO Kevin Coker also secured Forbes Council membership with seven bylined articles.
  • Analyst Recognition – Inclusion in 70+ analyst reports positioning Proxima CRO alongside LabCorp, ICON, and IQVIA as an innovative challenger brand, often listed in the headline and among the first and foremost CROs to consider.
  • Award-Winning Brand & Creative – 25+ awards across brand, creative, culture, business, and staff; superhero campaign mascots Proxi & Mini Proxi became central to the brand identity.
  • Expansion & Launch Campaigns – Supported the launch of Proxima CRO’s business Accelerator, M1 MedTech, and their innovative Inventing Tomorrow Podcast.
  • Leadership Positioning – Elevated Isabella Schmitt, Regulatory Affairs Director, to national recognition through media, awards, and multiple speaking engagements.

Results & Metrics

  • 65+ media placements in national and industry outlets.
  • 70+ analyst report inclusions spotlighting Proxima as a challenger brand.
  • 25+ national and international awards for brand, creative, and culture.
  • Successful launches of M1 MedTech Accelerator and Inventing Tomorrow Podcast.
  • Elevated leadership positioning for executives, including national and local recognition.

Impact

In just three years, Proxima CRO grew from a new entrant to a recognized authority in the CRO industry. The company consistently ranked alongside global CRO giants, built an award-winning brand, and achieved recognition as one of the fastest-growing and most innovative companies in the Southwest.

Lessons Learned

  • In conservative industries, credibility comes from third-party validation — media, analysts, and awards create legitimacy quickly.
  • Creative branding can differentiate even in serious sectors — the superhero campaign gave Proxima CRO a unique, memorable identity, easily recognized at trade shows and events.
  • Fractional leadership maximizes impact — pairing PR expertise with an in-house team accelerated growth without the cost of a full-time CMO.

Conclusion

Through a powerful mix of PR, analyst relations, awards strategy, and creative storytelling, Engagement PR & Marketing helped Proxima CRO grow from a startup challenger to an industry authority in just three years. Today, Proxima Clinical Research is recognized not only as an excellent CRO, but as a movement for innovators bringing life-saving technologies to market.