BIOSSAAL Bioscience, a “De-extinction” startup working to revive extinct species such as the winly mammoth, is acquiring a Texas-based company with an equally eye-catching project: hybrid pets. The agreement marks Kolossal’s first acquisition and brings under its wings with visa, a profit that takes care of reproducing dead dogs, cats and horses. Its custom client list includes Barbra Streisand, Paris Hilton and Argentina’s President Javier Miley.
However, ECOLOSSAL CEO BEN LAMM insists the move was not motivated by a pet celebrity. “That’s not why we bought them,” he told the deviant. What Colossal is really looking for, according to Lamm, is vamgen’s deep expertise in testing and preserving animal samples from endangered species.
Viagen has previously placed the technology of clecting – with a licensee who created Dolly sheep in 1996 – to produce genetic twins such as the black-footed horse and the przewalski. The latter was successfully integrated into the combined tissue, marking a milestone in conservation.
Such differences make viagn “The ideal nature” of Colossal, said Lamm, who founded the company that was expanded in 2021 with genetics George Church to bring back ancient animal species from today’s relatives. Cloning, which relies on a process known as Somatic Cell Turner Transfer, is very important to Komali’s work in Mammalian species. “It was hard to find a reason not to do it,” Lamm said.
Colossal did not disclose financial details of its acquisition, which Lamm described as a “major transaction.” The first ambitious goals – which already lead to progress such as ““hairy mouse” and the installation of Drive Wolf DNA gray wolves – supported by a group of investors, including Hilton, actor Joe Manganganeiello and The Lord of the Rings Director Peter Jackson. Colossal is currently valued at over $10.3 billion following a $200 million funding round in January and a $120 million advisory.
Cats and dogs
Under the agreement, VIAGEN will serve as colossal sponsor and continue to be led by Blake Russell, the company’s president, and all 25 employees remaining at its Austin headquarters. “Joining forces with Colossal – the only pioneer and leader in biotechnology – gives Viosgen, resources to share to expand what we can do, marking the company’s recovery strategy in areas at risk of recovery.
Founded in 2002, VIAGEN began with a focus on livestock genetics. Ten years ago, however, it was well known for its pet services, which cost $50,000 for cats and dogs and $85,000 for horses.
VIAGEN will continue with that one business, said Lamm, who looked at the similarities between pets and the extinction of work, describing both as efforts to spread “hope” through the public’s interest in science and conservation. While pets aren’t part of Kolossal’s business model, Lamm pointed out that the contrarian trend can still serve a personal purpose. “There are people who are spiritually devastated when they lose their pet, and if this is a way to end that suffering on a personal level, then I don’t think that’s a bad thing,” she said.
Expanding the genetic frontier
The acquisition won’t change Kolostis’ approach to profitability, which continues to focus on its long-term capital projects rather than immediate revenue. So far, commercial ventures have focused on pinching companies such as Form Bio, which specializes in Computational Biology; Breakthrough, which promotes technology destroyed by plastic; And the third venture, which cannot be named – all worth more than $ 100 million each.
Reviving endless animal species such as the winly mammoth, the dodo bird and the tasmanian tiger remains Colossal’s high desire. While the vanegen deal may not accelerate those times, lamm believes it expands the company’s capabilities. “I think it would create an additional bankruptcy option,” he said.
