As tomorrow’s innovations are developed by today’s entrepreneurs, we invest in transformational scientific opportunities aligned with our core R&D interests to gain access to next-generation science and build relationships with proven and emerging scientific leaders.
Investing since 2009, we focus exclusively on novel, transformational therapeutics at discovery and pre-clinical stages. Aligning with AbbVie’s strategic focus, our investments address critical needs in oncology, immunology, neuroscience, eye care, and aesthetics. We offer our partners access to AbbVie’s vast internal network of experts in all phases of drug development, from drug discovery through successful commercialization.
Our current portfolio is comprised of over 30 companies based in the US and Europe. Targeting six to eight new investments annually, predominantly at the Seed or Series A stage, we have the capability and flexibility to create new companies, and lead or co-lead a syndicate. Our team of dedicated investing professionals is based in three locations: Cambridge (MA), San Francisco (CA), and Oxford (UK). We are supported by a select team of passionate AbbVie scientists in residence globally.
Head of AbbVie Ventures - Cambridge, MA
Christian is a trained geneticist, neurobiologist, and biochemist with global big pharma and large biotech experience, and an ever-curious biotech startup mindset. He brings broad strategic and deep operational expertise in company creation, venture investing, external innovation, business development, and R&D to AbbVie Ventures. Passionate about drug discovery and value creation through scientific entrepreneurship to serve patients across the biopharmaceutical value chain, Christian has built and led successful partnering teams across biotech hubs in the US, Europe, and Asia-Pacific.
Director - San Francisco, CA
Shawna brings a familiarity of the biotech ecosystem from both sides of the table. She is an experienced life science venture capital investor with prior investments in private and public biotech companies, participating in Series A financings through IPO and beyond. She also has Corporate Strategy and Business Development experience and was herself Co-Founder and Scientific Advisor of a bay area startup developing therapeutics for neurological and ocular indications. A biochemist/biophysicist by training, her prior research experience spans the areas of cellular physiology, molecular engineering, synthetic biology and gene therapy.
Director - Oxford, UK
Donmienne is a strategic thinker and a passionate drug hunter with decades of experience in pre-clinical research where she delivered valuable clinical assets to treat the unmet needs of patients. She broke boundaries to stride the interface of small molecule chemistry and biologics research with a collaborative mindset to connect scientists in her expanding network around the world.
Managing Director – Cambridge, MA
Claire is a trained molecular and cellular biologist with extensive experience leading preclinical and clinical drug development programs. Claire marries the breadth of her broad technological reach, with prime experience in all stages of investments (Seed, A, B, C, IPO, PIPE, SPAC) which she acquired in established corporate venture funds. With this totality, she has proven to be a catalyst for organizations developing transformative technologies, where she is known to build bespoke deal financing structures and business models to generate progress in the community.
Claire has a PhD from the Institute of Genetics, Molecular and Cellular Biology of Strasbourg-Illkirch France, and a Master of Business Administration from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School (Cambridge MA). She has 14 years of experience in drug development acquired at Forenap Pharma, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, and Pfizer Inc. She was an investor at Samsung Venture America (SVA), Johnson & Johnson Development Corporation (JJDC), and most recently was an Entrepreneur in Residence at the National Institutes of Health (Bethesda, MD).
Associate Director - San Francisco, CA
Danjuma is a trained computational biologist with a background in human genomics and statistical genetics that started in the AbbVie Genetics Research Center before transitioning to AbbVie Ventures in the Corporate Strategy Organization. He joined the team after simultaneously completing the Strategy Leadership Development program and an MBA from the Kellogg School of Business at Northwestern. Danjuma is passionate about early cutting-edge science, novel drug development technologies, and external biopharmaceutical innovation to ultimately improve patient lives.
Director - Cambridge, MA
Christina Vorvis, PhD is Director, East Coast Ventures at AbbVie, where she leads investments in early-stage companies developing transformative therapies and technologies for cancer, immunology, neuroscience, eye care, and aesthetics based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Christina has over 10 years of experience in the Life Sciences, including benchside research, digital health startups, investment banking, and deal origination and deal execution at global institutions like Amgen, OrbiMed, and Back Bay Life Science Advisors. She earned her PhD in Cancer Biology from the University of California, Los Angeles where she studied the molecular mechanisms of tumor growth and progression in pancreatic cancer. Prior to joining AbbVie, Christina advised biotech and pharmaceutical companies on mergers and acquisitions, financings, and other strategic transactions. In her current role at AbbVie, Christina is passionate about using her expertise to help innovative companies develop and commercialize new therapies and technologies that improve the lives of patients around the world.
Associate Director – Cambridge, MA
Shann is a globally minded strategic thinker whose training in bioengineering and immunology took him across three continents. He joined AbbVie as part of the Strategic Leadership Program, where he gained experience in business development, decision sciences, and pipeline analytics prior to joining AbbVie Ventures. Shann is passionate about enabling complete cures and improving the lives of patients through innovative science.
Executive Director - Irvine, CA
Doug is an entrepreneurial life scientist-PhD immunologist with more than twenty years of professional experience spanning both major pharmaceutical and academic environments. His collective expertise includes leading search and evaluation efforts for business development and external strategic partnering opportunities, therapeutic area corporate strategy, drug repositioning-asset/indication pairing, and both preclinical and clinical development. With an emphasis on innovation, creative and strategic partnerships, and cross-functional team leadership, Doug brings broad experience across the disciplines of immunology and inflammation specializing in ophthalmology, dermatology, gene and cell therapies, and aesthetics.
Manager – Tokyo, Japan
Shu Konakahara, PhD has 15+ years of experience in R&D and business at academia, biotech and pharmaceutical companies. His expertise covers basic research to clinical development in various therapeutic areas and modalities, especially antibody discovery and early clinical development. He has extensive experience in joint research and business development due diligence. Shu is passionate about fostering innovative science and technology for patients, and is serving as a bridge between pharmaceutical company and stakeholders in biotech ecosystems.
Associate Director – Tokyo, Japan
Tadaatsu Naka, PhD has 20+ years of experience in R&D and business at academia and pharmaceutical companies. His expertise covers basic research, precision medicine, clinical pharmacology, CMC, and clinical development in various therapeutic areas and modalities including gene therapy and nucleic acid. He is passionate about utilizing his science and development backgrounds to the activation of translational science and bio-communities. He sincerely wants to contribute to making patients and their families happy.
Director - Ludwigshafen, Germany
Joachim spent more than 20 years in the pharmaceutical and biotech industry in BD and research roles. He is enthusiastic about cutting-edge technologies and projects that ultimately can be developed into new medicines. Joachim holds a diploma in chemistry and received his PhD in protein crystallography at the University of Freiburg.
Head Dev Strategy & Operations - Shanghai, China
Tom is the Head of Development Strategy & Operations at AbbVie China, bringing over 19 years of global experience in R&D leadership, External innovation, and Business development across top multinational corporations. In addition to his current role, Tom now supports AbbVie Ventures in China. In this role, he engages with biopharma companies, academic institutions, investors, and biotech innovators to identify venture investment and syndication opportunities. With a strong background in molecular biology, bioinformatics, and business strategy, Tom effectively bridges scientific expertise with strategic leadership to drive innovation and build impactful partnerships. His previous leadership roles at major pharmaceutical companies involved advancing external collaborations across Asia in oncology, diagnostics, and early-stage interventional therapies. He is very passionate about fostering scientific entrepreneurship and delivering transformative solutions for patients.
Learn about AbbVie Ventures' early-stage investment philosophy published in Nature.
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