Why Babesia Goes Undiagnosed: The Research, the Treatment Gap & What's Coming | Dr. Geoff Dow, 60 Degrees Pharmaceuticals

Babesia is hiding in plain sight, and the data gap is bigger than most people realize.In this episode of the Lyme+ Podcast, host Kenzie Vath sits down with Dr. Geoff Dow, PhD, Founder and CEO of 60 Degrees Pharmaceuticals, for a conversation that starts personal and gets deeply scientific. Dr. Dow's own entry into the Lyme world came through his wife's diagnosis in Marin County, California, a region that doesn't appear on official Lyme maps. That experience shaped everything: the importance of acting on caution, not waiting for a perfect diagnosis, and the very real consequences of data gaps in tick-borne illness.The official case count for Babesiosis sits at 2,000 to 3,000 per year. 60 Degrees' own claims analysis suggests the real number is at least 25,000, and that's still likely an undercount, given how little awareness exists around the disease. Dr. Dow breaks down why the numbers are so distorted, what it takes to actually define a case without reliable diagnostics, and why the blood bank screening assay (roughly 1,000 times more sensitive than anything commercially available to physicians) represents one of the starkest diagnostic gaps in modern medicine.This is one of the most grounded, science-forward conversations we've had on the podcast, and one of the most urgent.🔬 WHAT WE COVER:Dr. Dow's personal entry point into Lyme and tick-borne illness researchHow tafenoquine (ARAKODA®) targets Babesia at the cellular levelWhy official Babesiosis case counts are a fraction of the real burdenThe three active clinical trials 60 Degrees is running and the FDA timelineWhy diagnostics are the foundational problem that has to be solved firstThe long COVID parallel and what it means for chronic illness legitimacyWhy 60 Degrees is often the only pharma company at ILADS conferences and what that says about the spaceABOUT GLOBAL LYME ALLIANCE (GLA)The Lyme+ Podcast is produced by Global Lyme Alliance (GLA) — the leading 501(c)(3) dedicated to conquering Lyme and tick-borne diseases through research, education, and awareness. GLA funds the most promising scientific research, accelerates better diagnostics and treatments, and empowers patients and families navigating tick-borne illness.🔗 Visit us at: www.globallymealliance.orgABOUT DR. GEOFF DOW, PhDDr. Geoff Dow is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of 60 Degrees Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: SXTP), a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company focused on developing new treatments for infectious diseases. 🔗 Learn more about 60 Degrees Pharmaceuticals: ⁠www.60degreespharma.com⁠⚠️ DISCLAIMERThe views expressed in this episode are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views of Global Lyme Alliance (GLA). This episode is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider regarding any medical condition, diagnosis, or treatment.