AbbVie is becoming the Major League Baseball’s first official pharmaceutical partner, launching a league-wide cancer awareness initiative starting in the 2026 season. The partnership marks a national expansion of AbbVie’s 'Striking Out Cancer' campaign.
For every strikeout recorded during the 2026 MLB season, AbbVie will donate $20 to Stand Up To Cancer-up to $1 million. The $20 figure reflects the World Health Organization’s statistic that 20% of people worldwide are diagnosed with cancer before age 75.
The program follows a successful 2025 pilot with the Chicago Cubs. AbbVie will also serve as presenting sponsor of the MLB Wild Card Series, amplifying public health messaging during high-profile postseason play.
Tracie Haas, Senior Vice President of Corporate Affairs at AbbVie, emphasized the power of community engagement: 'Cancer impacts millions of families, and partnerships like this allow us to meet people where they are.'
MLB’s April Brown called the collaboration transformative, noting that each strikeout becomes a symbol of progress in cancer research. The campaign will remain visible across major league events throughout the year.