Regeneron Pharmaceuticals
| Company type | Public |
|---|---|
| Industry | Biotechnology |
| Founded | 1988 |
| Founder | Leonard Schleifer, George Yancopoulos |
| Headquarters | Westchester County, New York , United States |
Key people | Leonard Schleifer (CEO), George Yancopoulos (Scientist) |
| Products | Aflibercept, Rilonacept, REGN-COV2, Arcalyst, Eylea, Zaltrap, Praluent, Dupixent, Kevzara, Libtayo, Inmazeb, Veopoz |
| Website | www |
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a biotechnology firm based in the United States, with its main offices located in Westchester County, New York. Established in 1988 by CEO Leonard Schleifer alongside scientist George Yancopoulos, the company initially concentrated on research involving neurotrophic factors. Over time, Regeneron expanded its focus to include studies on cytokine and tyrosine kinase receptors, culminating in the development of its inaugural product, a VEGF-trap.
Company history
Among Regeneron's notable innovations are products like aflibercept, which inhibits VEGF, and rilonacept, an antagonist of interleukin-1. VEGF plays a crucial role in promoting blood vessel formation, whereas interleukin-1 contributes to inflammatory processes.
In 2012, Regeneron entered into a collaboration with Sanofi to create a medication targeting the PCSK9 gene, with the goal of substantially lowering cholesterol levels. By July 2015, the partnership expanded into a worldwide immuno-oncology alliance valued at over $2 billion, including an upfront payment of $640 million and additional milestone payments linked to the development of REGN2810 (cemiplimab).
During the 2010s, Regeneron achieved a total shareholder return of 1,457%, ranking seventh among publicly traded companies. In 2020, its leadership team earned the highest compensation within the pharmaceutical sector.
October 2017 marked an agreement between Regeneron and the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), where the U.S. government agreed to cover 80% of expenses related to developing antibody-based therapies, including those for COVID-19. Under this contract, Regeneron maintained authority over pricing and manufacturing decisions.
The company was added to the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index in 2019. That year also saw Regeneron repurchasing nearly 19.2 million shares from Sanofi for approximately $5 billion, thereby decreasing Sanofi’s ownership stake.
Regeneron's growth strategy included several acquisitions: acquiring Checkmate Pharmaceuticals in April 2022 to enhance its immuno-oncology offerings; buying Decibel Therapeutics in August 2023 to advance gene therapy and hearing loss initiatives; obtaining an Avon Products facility in Suffern, New York, in December 2023 for research and cold storage purposes; and acquiring 2seventy Bio in April 2024.
In May 2025, Regeneron prevailed in an antitrust case against Amgen, securing $135.6 million in compensatory damages plus $271.2 million in punitive damages. The lawsuit claimed that Amgen engaged in anti-competitive behavior aimed at obstructing Regeneron's cholesterol drug Praluent while promoting its competitor Repatha.
This profile highlights Regeneron’s leadership in biotechnological innovation, expansion through strategic alliances and acquisitions worldwide, and robust financial performance driven by key products and partnerships.
Experimental treatment for COVID-19
On February 4, 2020, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced a partnership with Regeneron to develop monoclonal antibodies against COVID-19. Later that year, in July 2020 under Operation Warp Speed, Regeneron received a $450 million government contract to produce and supply its experimental antibody cocktail REGN-COV2 for both treatment and prevention of COVID-19. Funding sources included BARDA, the Department of Defense Joint Program Executive Office, and the Army Contracting Command. The company anticipated manufacturing between 70,000 and 300,000 treatment doses or between 420,000 and 1.3 million prevention doses. The government agreed to distribute these doses free of charge once emergency use authorization or full approval was granted.
In October 2020, then-President Donald Trump was administered REGN-COV2 during his COVID-19 hospitalization at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center through compassionate use before FDA approval was granted. Shortly afterward, Regeneron applied for emergency use authorization from the FDA, reporting an inventory of 50,000 doses with plans to scale up to 300,000 doses soon after. The FDA issued emergency use authorization in November 2020, positioning REGN-COV2 as a pivotal asset within Regeneron's portfolio amid the ongoing pandemic.
Marketed products
- Arcalyst (rilonacept) is indicated for the treatment of uncommon autoinflammatory disorders; it received FDA approval in February 2008.
- Eylea (aflibercept injection) addresses a primary cause of vision loss among elderly patients; approved by the FDA in November 2011, with an approximate annual price of $11,000 per eye.
- Zaltrap (aflibercept injection) is utilized for metastatic colorectal cancer management; it gained FDA approval in August 2012.
- Praluent (alirocumab) serves as a supplementary therapy alongside diet and statins for adults with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia or atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease requiring further LDL cholesterol lowering; FDA approval was granted in July 2015, with yearly costs ranging from $4,500 to $8,000.
- Dupixent (dupilumab injection) treats moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis in both adolescents and adults; it was approved by the FDA in March 2017 and has an annual cost close to $37,000.
- Kevzara (sarilumab injection), an interleukin-6 receptor inhibitor designed for moderate-to-severe rheumatoid arthritis, received FDA clearance in May 2017. Clinical studies commenced in 2020 to assess its potential application in COVID-19 therapy.
- Libtayo (cemiplimab injection) is a PD-1 checkpoint inhibitor approved for metastatic or locally advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma when surgery or radiation are not viable options; it was authorized by the FDA in September 2018.
- Inmazeb (atoltivimab/maftivimab/odesivimab), a combination of three antibodies, is approved for treating infections caused by Zaire ebolavirus; FDA approval came in October 2020.
- Veopoz (pozelimab-bbfg), a monoclonal antibody targeting complement factor C5, obtained approval in August 2023 for treating CHAPLE disease or CD55-deficient protein-losing enteropathy in both pediatric and adult patients.
Technology platforms
Regeneron’s proprietary Trap technology produces candidates with high affinity by combining two fully human receptor elements fused to an immunoglobulin-G constant region, targeting signaling molecules such as growth factors and cytokines.
The company’s VelociSuite platform—including VelocImmune and VelociMab—facilitates the swift discovery of therapeutic targets and the development of fully human monoclonal antibodies, strengthening Regeneron’s position in biologic drug innovation.
Financial performance
| Fiscal Year | Revenue |
|---|---|
| 2012 | $1.4 billion |
| 2013 | $2.1 billion |
| 2014 | $2.8 billion |
| 2015 | $4.1 billion |
| 2016 | $4.8 billion |
| 2017 | $5.8 billion |
| 2018 | $6.7 billion |
| 2019 | $7.8 billion |
| 2020 | $8.5 billion |
| 2021 | $16.1 billion |
| 2022 | $12.2 billion |
| 2023 | $13.1 billion |
| 2024 | $14.2 billion |
Key people
Company founders Leonard Schleifer and George Yancopoulos possess substantial equity stakes valued at roughly $1.3 billion and $900 million respectively. Schleifer, formerly a professor at Weill Cornell Medicine, together with Yancopoulos, who holds an MD/PhD from Columbia University, have been instrumental in guiding Regeneron’s strategic direction and pharmaceutical innovation, driving the firm’s market presence and commercial expansion.
See also
- Biotech and pharmaceutical companies in the New York metropolitan area
- Regeneron Science Talent Search