Colossal Biosciences, a prominent "de-extinction" startup, has made a significant move in its quest to revive long-lost species by acquiring Texas-based company ViaGen. The deal marks Colossal's first-ever acquisition and brings under its wing the expertise of ViaGen, which specializes in cloning and preserving genetic samples from endangered species.
ViaGen, founded in 2002, initially focused on the genetic preservation of livestock but has since become renowned for its pet cloning services, including cats, dogs, and horses. The company's services come with hefty price tags: $50,000 for cats and dogs and $85,000 for horses. However, Colossal CEO Ben Lamm disputes that these services are driven by celebrity interest, claiming the acquisition was motivated solely by ViaGen's expertise in cloning and preserving genetic samples.
Lamm explains that ViaGen's technologies, licensed from the lab that created Dolly the sheep in 1996, have successfully produced genetic twins of animals such as the black-footed ferret and Przewalski's horse. This expertise is crucial to Colossal's work on mammalian species, which relies heavily on somatic cell nuclear transfer.
The acquisition has been valued at a "decently large transaction," but Lamm emphasizes that it won't impact Colossal's path toward profitability, as the company remains focused on its long-term de-extinction projects. Reviving extinct species like the woolly mammoth and dodo bird remain Colossal's core ambition.
Lamm sees the ViaGen acquisition as a means to broaden Colossal's capabilities and create "optionality" for additional de-extinction targets. He acknowledges that while the acquisition may not accelerate timelines, it brings significant expertise in cloning and preserving genetic samples.
In addition to expanding its capabilities, the deal gives ViaGen the scale and resources it needs to continue its work on endangered species recovery. With all 25 employees remaining at its Austin headquarters, the company will operate as a subsidiary of Colossal, led by Blake Russell, who has praised the acquisition, stating that it provides the necessary support for the team's growth.
In a way, this deal symbolizes the blurred lines between de-extinction efforts and pet cloning. While the latter may not be part of Colossal's business model, Lamm justifies its personal significance, suggesting that some people find solace in reviving their beloved pets.
ViaGen, founded in 2002, initially focused on the genetic preservation of livestock but has since become renowned for its pet cloning services, including cats, dogs, and horses. The company's services come with hefty price tags: $50,000 for cats and dogs and $85,000 for horses. However, Colossal CEO Ben Lamm disputes that these services are driven by celebrity interest, claiming the acquisition was motivated solely by ViaGen's expertise in cloning and preserving genetic samples.
Lamm explains that ViaGen's technologies, licensed from the lab that created Dolly the sheep in 1996, have successfully produced genetic twins of animals such as the black-footed ferret and Przewalski's horse. This expertise is crucial to Colossal's work on mammalian species, which relies heavily on somatic cell nuclear transfer.
The acquisition has been valued at a "decently large transaction," but Lamm emphasizes that it won't impact Colossal's path toward profitability, as the company remains focused on its long-term de-extinction projects. Reviving extinct species like the woolly mammoth and dodo bird remain Colossal's core ambition.
Lamm sees the ViaGen acquisition as a means to broaden Colossal's capabilities and create "optionality" for additional de-extinction targets. He acknowledges that while the acquisition may not accelerate timelines, it brings significant expertise in cloning and preserving genetic samples.
In addition to expanding its capabilities, the deal gives ViaGen the scale and resources it needs to continue its work on endangered species recovery. With all 25 employees remaining at its Austin headquarters, the company will operate as a subsidiary of Colossal, led by Blake Russell, who has praised the acquisition, stating that it provides the necessary support for the team's growth.
In a way, this deal symbolizes the blurred lines between de-extinction efforts and pet cloning. While the latter may not be part of Colossal's business model, Lamm justifies its personal significance, suggesting that some people find solace in reviving their beloved pets.
I'm loving this 
move by Colossal Biosciences! 
Acquiring ViaGen is like getting a 
filled with expertise on cloning and preserving genetic samples - exactly what they need to bring back those amazing extinct species 
. $50k for cat cloning? 
yeah, it's a splurge, but who wouldn't want their kitty back from the dead? 
For Colossal, this deal is like getting a 
key to unlock new possibilities and timelines 
. It's not about speeding up de-extinction, but about having all the right tools in place for when they finally bring back the woolly mammoths! 
, like $50k for a cat or dog? what about all the other species they're trying to bring back tho? like the woolly mammoth or something? shouldn't we be prioritizing that over some celebrity's furbaby 
colossal's gotta be getting some flak from people who think this is just a waste of resources, but i guess it's all about taking small steps towards a bigger goal 
. Still, if it can help reviving endangered species, I'm all for it 
. Maybe they'll figure out how to make it more affordable and make it happen soon! 
and we don't even know the consequences of bringing back these animals on our ecosystem 
let's focus on preserving endangered species in their natural habitat rather than trying to revive them in labs 
It's like, we're getting so close to bringing back extinct species, but at the same time, we're still paying $50k for a cloned cat 
Like, I get it, some people are gonna pay that kinda money to see their fave furry friend brought back. But seriously, Colossal's move into acquiring ViaGen is a big deal - they've got the expertise to bring back real game changers like woolly mammoths 
. But hey, if people want to pay $50k to clone their cat or dog, who am I to judge? 
. Still got my doubts about the whole thing, but I'm curious to see how it all plays out 
It's like something out of a sci-fi movie! Colossal Biosciences is taking it one step at a time with their acquisition of ViaGen. The fact that they're focusing on the expertise in cloning and preserving genetic samples is huge 
. I'm all about seeing these de-extinction efforts come to life 
. Okay, maybe not that last part, but it's definitely cool to think about the possibilities 
.
.
I'm curious to see how this de-extinction thing plays out, but the prices for cloning pets are kinda crazy, you know? $50k for a cat? That's like, my rent for a month 
. Mark my words, this will all end in disappointment and a lot of wasted resources 
colossals is literally changing the world by bringing back extinct species! i'm all about it 
and having via gen on board makes it even more legit 
ben lamm's vision for this acquisition is so inspiring 
Still think it's gonna be a looong time before they bring back the real deal tho, but at least we'll have some new life forms to play with 
. The fact that Colossal is focusing on long-term de-extinction projects gives me hope for a future where we can see woolly mammoths and dodos roaming free again 
. Let's keep the momentum going! 