Aratana Therapeutics is working with a New York bioscience company on a new treatment for periodontal disease in dogs and cats.

Traverse Biosciences’ drug, TRB-N0224, was developed by researchers at Stony Brook University.

As part of the partnership, Aratana will put up $250,000, and it has an option to sublicense and sell the drug in exchange for $8.25 million plus royalties.

“Aratana is committed to providing veterinarians with new therapies that are deeply rooted in science, and which are specifically made for pets,” said Dr. Steven St. Peter, the founder, president and CEO of Aratana Therapeutics, which is based in Kansas City, Kan.

“Our pipeline currently consists of more than 18 therapies to treat a variety of diseases affecting companion animals. TRB-N0224 would be the first product to treat an oral health condition.”

The partnership will start with a proof-of-concept study to see how well TRB-N0224 works for dogs. About 80 percent of dogs have experienced periodontal disease by the time they turn 3. The problem plagues small and older dogs in particular.

“The global animal health market is rapidly expanding, and this growth represents a significant business opportunity for companies developing innovative products that address unmet needs in veterinary medicine,” said Joseph Scaduto, Traverse Biosciences’ founder and CEO.