Regeneron Unveils Groundbreaking $200 Million Donation Matching Program to Expand Patient Access to Vision-Saving Treatments
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, a leader in biotechnology and a longtime advocate for equitable healthcare access, has announced a bold new philanthropic initiative designed to support patients facing debilitating eye diseases. The company has launched a first-of-its-kind donation matching program in partnership with Good Days, a nationally recognized independent charitable patient assistance organization. This initiative will focus specifically on enhancing the reach of Good Days’ Retinal Vascular and Neovascular Disease Fund, which offers financial assistance to eligible patients dealing with serious vision-threatening conditions.
Under this new program, Regeneron has pledged to match dollar-for-dollar any donations made to the fund—up to an extraordinary $200 million—through the end of the 2025 calendar year. This commitment represents one of the most significant matching donation campaigns ever undertaken in the biopharmaceutical industry and signals a deepened investment in improving patient outcomes beyond the laboratory or clinic.
A Bold Step to Address a Pressing Need
Retinal vascular and neovascular diseases, such as diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration (AMD), are among the leading causes of irreversible blindness in the United States and around the world. While effective treatments do exist—many of them involving advanced biologic therapies that can slow, halt, or even reverse the progression of these conditions—the cost of care can remain a formidable barrier for many patients, particularly those on fixed or limited incomes.
Good Days, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, has long been working to fill this gap by offering financial assistance to U.S. patients who meet specific eligibility criteria. The organization’s Retinal Vascular and Neovascular Disease Fund provides copayment support for individuals with these sight-threatening diagnoses, ensuring that cost does not prevent them from accessing treatments approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Importantly, assistance provided through the fund is entirely independent of pharmaceutical companies’ product promotion strategies. Patients who receive support are not directed toward any particular therapy or drug manufacturer. Instead, eligibility and support are determined solely by Good Days in accordance with strict ethical and regulatory standards. Patients may receive support for any FDA-approved treatment that is medically appropriate for their condition.
A Philanthropic Commitment Grounded in Equity
Leonard Schleifer, M.D., Ph.D., Co-Founder, Board Co-Chair, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Regeneron, underscored the significance of the program in a statement accompanying the announcement.
“We are proud to support Good Days with this unprecedented philanthropic effort,” Dr. Schleifer said. “By matching and thus doubling donations to Good Days’ Retinal Vascular and Neovascular Disease Fund, Regeneron can continue our longstanding support of patients through non-profit organizations, while encouraging others to join us in ensuring that even more patients can access the life-changing medicines they require to protect, restore and save their vision.”
Schleifer emphasized that this initiative reflects Regeneron’s broader corporate mission, which goes beyond drug development to embrace meaningful partnerships that bridge gaps in the healthcare system. The donation matching campaign not only provides a financial boost to a critical support fund, but also invites individuals, philanthropic organizations, and other private donors to contribute—knowing their donations will have double the impact.
Good Days: An Independent Force for Access
Good Days has earned national recognition for its transparent, patient-focused approach to charitable assistance. With decades of experience managing funds for a variety of diseases, the organization is known for operating within regulatory frameworks and maintaining independence from pharmaceutical manufacturers. The nonprofit carefully vets all donations and disburses assistance based on pre-established eligibility criteria, including income level, insurance status, and medical diagnosis.
The newly enhanced Retinal Vascular and Neovascular Disease Fund is one of many disease-specific funds Good Days manages to help patients across a spectrum of therapeutic areas. However, the infusion of up to $200 million through Regeneron’s matching challenge could dramatically expand the fund’s ability to reach underserved and underinsured patients who otherwise might delay or forgo care.
Going Beyond Medicine: Regeneron’s Patient-Centric Approach
While this initiative is certainly noteworthy in scope and structure, it also reflects a consistent throughline in Regeneron’s approach to patient support. The company has long invested in a variety of programs designed to ease the burden of access to its innovative therapies.
These include patient assistance programs that provide free medicine to eligible individuals, product support initiatives that help patients navigate the complexities of insurance coverage, and Managed Access Programs that make investigational or unapproved therapies available to those in urgent need under appropriate regulatory conditions.
In addition, Regeneron collaborates closely with stakeholders across the healthcare ecosystem—including non-governmental organizations, public health institutions, and advocacy groups—to develop practical solutions for real-world access challenges.
The donation matching program with Good Days is therefore not an isolated endeavor, but rather an extension of a deep-rooted philosophy that access to treatment should not be determined by financial status. Over the past decade alone, Regeneron has contributed more than $2.5 billion in donations to independent charitable organizations focused on helping patients pay for their treatment.
Amplifying Impact Through Collective Action
One of the most compelling aspects of the new initiative is its capacity to galvanize others to give. By committing to match every contribution dollar-for-dollar, Regeneron effectively doubles the impact of each donor’s gift. This multiplier effect not only increases the pool of available funds but also reinforces a shared responsibility to help vulnerable individuals access care.
This model also sends a strong signal to other stakeholders in the healthcare and philanthropic communities. At a time when the cost of healthcare remains a top concern for many Americans, corporate leaders can—and should—play an active role in driving innovative solutions that promote access and equity.
By choosing to support Good Days, a reputable and independent nonprofit, Regeneron ensures that donations are handled with transparency and integrity. It also gives potential donors confidence that their contributions are being administered ethically and in the best interests of patients.
A Vision for the Future
With its ambitious scale and transparent structure, Regeneron’s donation matching program represents a forward-thinking approach to corporate responsibility in the life sciences sector. The initiative not only provides immediate financial relief to patients in need, but also lays the groundwork for sustainable partnerships that can have a lasting impact on public health.
The need is undeniable. As the U.S. population ages and chronic conditions like diabetes and macular degeneration become more prevalent, demand for vision-preserving treatments will only grow. By supporting organizations like Good Days and empowering patients to access their prescribed treatments, Regeneron is helping to protect not just sight, but also quality of life and independence.
In the months ahead, it will be important to monitor how the matching fund develops, how many patients benefit, and whether it inspires similar initiatives across the industry. What is clear today is that Regeneron has set a powerful example of how biotechnology companies can leverage their success to improve lives—not only through the medicines they create, but also through the compassionate systems they help build.
