Harvard collaborates with AbbVie on viral infection research alliance

AbbVie is teaming up with Harvard University on a $30 million research alliance to study and develop novel therapies against emergent viral infections.

The focus of the research, which will take place at Harvard Medical School (HMS), is on viral infections caused by coronaviruses and other viruses that lead to hemorrhagic fever.

“A key element of having a strong R&D organization is collaboration with top academic institutions, like Harvard Medical School, to develop therapies for patients who need them most,” Michael Severino, vice chairman and president, AbbVie, said. “There is much to learn about viral diseases and the best way to treat them. By harnessing the power of collaboration, we can develop new therapeutics sooner to ensure the world is better prepared for future potential outbreaks.”

AbbVie will provide $30 million over three years and additional support, including its scientists, expertise, and facilities, to advance collaborative research and early-stage development efforts across five program areas. The five areas are immunity and immunopathology, host targeting for antiviral therapies, antibody therapeutics, small molecules, and translational development.

“The cataclysmic nature of the COVID-19 pandemic reminds us how vital it is to be prepared for the next public health crisis and how critical collaboration is on every level—across disciplines, across institutions, and across national boundaries,” George Daley, dean of Harvard Medical School, said. “Harvard Medical School, as the nucleus of an ecosystem of fundamental discovery and therapeutic translation, is uniquely positioned to propel this transformative research alongside allies like AbbVie.”