- Finding new treatments for difficult to cure diseases
- Devoted to improving local education and medical care
Although Chicago-based AbbVie was founded only five years ago, its performance in delivering new drugs for hard-to-treat diseases and its dedication to improving local medical services and education have quickly received global attention.
“Our goal is to provide groundbreaking medicine for hard-to-tackle diseases, make a difference in the life of patients, and be the most reliable biopharmaceutical company in the world,” said AbbVie Taiwan General Manager James Huang
AbbVie’s therapeutic focus areas are immunology, virology, oncology, and neurology sciences. Its drugs and indications are used by more than 280 million patients across 175 countries. AbbVie’s portfolio includes a world-leading biological agent for treating as many as 13 indications, a monoclonal antibody for the prevention of human respiratory syncytial virus infection in premature babies, an inhaled anesthetic agent for general anesthesia, HIV medication, medication for late stage Parkinson’s disease, and many more.
Aside from research and development, AbbVie has expanded its presence in oncology through the acquisition of companies with expertise in the field: Pharmacyclics and Stemcentrx. “It is expected that innovative treatments for chronic lymphocytic leukemia and small cell lung cancer will be introduced in the next five years,” Huang said.
AbbVie strives to find the best medical solution for patients with hard-to-treat diseases. Every year, 16% of the company’s profits, totaling US$4 billion, is used for new drug development. It is expected that 20 new products will be introduced by 2020.
“AbbVie is actively conducting clinical trials in Taiwan to set up a sound patient database and help local doctors understand the mechanism of new drugs,” said Huang. At present, the company has 26 clinical trials underway in Taiwan involving total investment of about NT$900 million.
In just five years, AbbVie Taiwan has jumped from being Taiwan’s 19th largest pharmaceutical company in 2013 to the 11th biggest today. The success is attributed not only to a strong line of products but also a comprehensive staff training program that has contributed to the making of a highly motivated team.
AbbVie Taiwan has a comprehensive career development plan and a performance evaluation system in place, providing each employee with a customized core development plan. AbbVie also provides a competitive benefits package to attract high-caliber employees. The above efforts have won AbbVie the “Top Employer” title by Top Employer Institute in both 2017 and 2018.
AbbVie Taiwan strives to be a corporate social responsibility advocate by practicing what we preach. Employees are entitled to two volunteer days per year. For example they pay visits to an HIV patient shelter, have Christmas Eve dinner with the residents, and have created an exercise room at the facility and donated resources.
Every June, AbbVie holds a global volunteer program called Week of Possibilities, In which more than 6,000 employees from more than 50 countries engage in as many as 135 activities and programs. Last year, AbbVie Taiwan took part by making of the documentary film “Reversing Riders” available to a total of 173 elementary and junior high schools in Chiayi County and Chiayi City. Produced by the Cultural Foundation of the United Daily News Group, the documentary is about 60 minority children who cycled 1,000 kilometers around Taiwan in 11 days. A writing competition was also held to encourage socially and economically deprived children to chase their dreams.
In addition AbbVie Taiwan for years has been working closely with the Premature Baby Foundation of Taiwan to promote premature baby care. Long before the all oral, interferon-free HCV regimen was covered by National Health Insurance, AbbVie Taiwan took the initiative to provide free medication to 12 middle-to-low income patients who responded poorly to traditional regimes.
Education and medical care are vital to a country’s development and sustainability. “We strive to improve the health and life of the public by working hand in hand with clinical professionals, medical institutions, government agencies, advocacy groups, and media to deliver innovative treatment and care,” said Huang.
