AbbVie flies the W against cancer with Chicago Cubs partnership, ASCO corporate campaign

Hey, AbbVie, what do you say? The Cubs are gonna strike out cancer today.

At least, that’s the goal of a new partnership between the Chicago-based pharma and one of its hometown’s pro baseball teams.

AbbVie and the Chicago Cubs will begin their team-up during Friday’s home game against the Cincinnati Reds. For the first year of the “Striking Out Cancer” initiative, AbbVie will make a donation of $233 for every strikeout by a Cubs pitcher at a home game during the team’s 2025 regular season, with the number signifying the American Cancer Society’s estimate that 233 Americans are diagnosed with cancer every hour.

The donations will go to cancer-focused charitable organizations, including Conquer Cancer, a foundation established by the American Society for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) to raise funds in support of cancer research and education.

“Every strikeout this Chicago Cubs season is more than a statistic on the scoreboard—it is a step forward in supporting those living with and fighting cancer,” Tracie Haas, senior VP of corporate affairs at AbbVie, said in Friday’s announcement. “Together with our hometown partner the Chicago Cubs, we aim to create greater awareness for cancer advocacy and to make a remarkable impact for those living with cancer worldwide.”

Elsewhere in the Windy City, AbbVie is also rolling out an out-of-home advertising campaign throughout Chicago amid this weekend’s annual ASCO meeting, which is expected to draw around 50,000 attendees to the city, per AbbVie.

AbbVie ASCO 2025 campaign
Imagery from AbbVie's new corporate campaign. (AbbVie)

The campaign is meant to raise awareness of the drugmaker’s work to develop new cancer treatments.

Examples of the ads sent to Fierce Pharma Marketing include spots on taxis, bus shelters and billboards. Along with lines touting AbbVie’s work in oncology, the materials all include references to its local roots, plus the company’s tagline of “People. Passion. Possibilities.”

“Innovating new treatments for cancer patients. From our home here in Chicago,” one reads, while another iteration offers, “Pioneering cancer innovation. From Chicagoland to the world.”