Regeneron To Partner With NYS On Tick-Related Disease Cures

TARRYTOWN, NY — A Tarrytown company will collaborate with the state to potentially develop ways to diagnose and treat tick-borne diseases, starting with Lyme disease. Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Tuesday the public-private research collaboration between the state Department of Health Wadsworth Center Laboratory and Tarrytown-based Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

The two will work together to develop improved ways to diagnose and treat diseases carried by ticks.

Cuomo said the collaboration harnesses the expertise of a leading biotech company to tackle one of the most pressing public health issues.

“Together, Regeneron and the Wadsworth Center Laboratory have the potential to advance health research, develop life-saving treatments for Lyme disease and address major gaps in our knowledge of tick-borne illnesses,” he said. “New York is proud to help bolster our world-class life sciences industry while investing in a safe, healthier Empire State for all.”

Regeneron and the Wadsworth Center Laboratory will jointly research how the causative agent of Lyme disease — the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi — replicates when someone is bitten by a tick carrying the bacterium and how the person’s immune response is activated.

This information will potentially advance the development of improved diagnostics, prophylactics and new therapeutics.

Over five years Regeneron will invest up to $48 million in the research, and the state will reimburse 50 percent of the company’s research costs up to a total reimbursement of $24 million through the New York State Life Sciences Initiative.

Additionally, up to $6 million will be provided to the laboratory through the initiative.

Dr. Howard Zucker, commissioner of the state Department of Health, said, “The department’s Wadsworth Center Laboratory is home to some of the nation’s premier research scientists, and by partnering with a first-class organization like Regeneron we are taking a significant step forward in developing a more accurate and efficient test to diagnose and ultimately treat these devastating diseases.”

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