PolyBio Raises $15 Million for Long COVID Treatment Initiative

The PolyBio Research Foundation announced it has raised $15 million for its Long COVID Cure Initiative (LCCI), aimed at developing treatments for the condition. The announcement was made at an event on September 15, co-hosted by Steve and Judy Pagliuca and Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey.

The initiative will use the funds to establish a clinical trials network focused on mechanistic studies and combination treatment strategies to speed up the evaluation of promising therapies. The scope of the research infrastructure is also being broadened to encompass treatments for chronic Lyme disease and other infection-associated chronic conditions.

The donor coalition includes notable figures such as Todd Park, Amy Geng, and Steve and Judy Pagliuca. The funds will support the development of validated tests for viral persistence and immune activation, identified by researchers as potential drivers of Long COVID.

"Long COVID has touched our family personally, so we understand that behind every statistic is a person whose health, independence, or career has been completely disrupted," said Steve Pagliuca during the event. "The urgent challenge now is turning scientific discoveries into tools and treatments that reach patients."

PolyBio's work includes developing diagnostic tools through programs like VIPER, aiming to identify key biological markers of persistent infections and immune responses. The expansion into Lyme disease reflects a broader strategy to address root causes of various chronic illnesses stemming from infections.