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Colossal Biosciences has announced its first acquisition, bringing Viagen Pets and Equine, the world leader in animal cloning, into its growing biotechnology family. Viagen made headlines a few years ago for cloning Barbra Streisand's dog, but their technological roots are tied to the cloning breakthroughs of the Roslin Institute, the same institution that created Dolly the sheep nearly three decades ago. The move marks a major expansion for Colossal, whose mission is to restore biodiversity and drive species de-extinction, a concept made popular with their work on the woolly mammoth and dire wolves. Under the new deal, Viagen will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of Colossal, continuing its commercial cloning services for pets, horses, and livestock, as well as advanced equine breeding and reproductive services. The company will also continue its global conservation and endangered-species work, collaborating closely with Colossal’s research teams and contributing its cloning expertise to ongoing de-extinction and species-preservation projects. Together, the two companies aim to push the boundaries of biotechnology, combining Colossal’s genetic-engineering expertise with Viagen’s two decades of cloning and cryopreservation innovation. “As an admirer of Viagen and an investor in Colossal, I am excited about how the combined approaches to animal welfare, biobanking, and cloning can be used not only with beloved pets but for more challenging endangered species,” said filmmaker Peter Jackson. “These two companies together give humanity a real shot at saving the planet’s biodiversity.” Colossal Biosciences Strengthens De-Extinction Mission With Viagen Acquisition For Colossal CEO Ben Lamm, acquiring Viagen was both a strategic and scientific decision, he tells me in an interview about the move. “Viagen is one of the top cloning companies in the world, and from a numbers perspective, it was hard to find a reason for Colossal not to acquire Viagen. For us, cloning is a critical step in de-extinction and conservation and Viagen's numbers stand out. Generally with cloning there’s a 1-2% success rate but Viagen is north of 80% making them truly the experts.” He added that Viagen’s shared goals in de-extinction and biobanking made the partnership a perfect fit. “The fact Viagen happens to be in Texas, we just really happened to luck out,” he said. How Viagen’s Cloning Technology Advances Colossal’s Genetic Engineering and Bio Vaults Lamm said Viagen’s cloning and cryopreservation technologies strengthen Colossal’s CRISPR and synthetic biology efforts while directly supporting the company’s upcoming Bio Vaults initiative, a cornerstone project launching in 2026. “Their proven ability to preserve and revive viable cells strengthens our capacity to safeguard genetic material from endangered and extinct species,” he said. “Together, we can build a more comprehensive biodiversity preservation infrastructure to protect and potentially restore species worldwide.” “Viagen’s experience cloning multiple species allows us to share data and techniques, creating new opportunities for de-extinction targets and advancing species conservation,” Lamm said. Colossal and Viagen’s Partnership Will Drive Global Conservation and Genetic Preservation Viagen will continue to operate independently, maintaining its pet, equine, and livestock cloning businesses while gaining access to Colossal’s resources and research network. “Viagen sells the mission of hope,” Lamm said. “While not a focus of Colossal, Viagen’s pet cloning business brings joy and hope to individual families and serves as an entry point for people to engage with science and inspire the next generation of kids. I do believe there are ways to connect those experiences to educational moments to inspire even more kids for the power and magic of science.” Lamm also confirmed that the company is open to further strategic growth. “Viagen was such a natural fit, and I’m sure there are other companies out there that can also complement what we do,” he said. “We are deeply invested in computational analysis and DNA synthesis because these can help our de-extinction pipeline.” Viagen’s Role in Colossal’s De-Extinction Platform and Endangered Species Efforts For Blake Russell, President of Viagen Pets and Equine, the acquisition represents both continuity and expansion. “We have been friends with the Colossal team from their very early stages,” he tells me over email. “It became clear early on that we should remain in touch and that our skills were very complementary.” “Joining Colossal opens new opportunities for Viagen to play a larger role in conservation while strengthening our offerings to clients through expanded research and reach.” Viagen’s success, he added, is the product of a highly skilled team and decades of learning. “Our scientists have spent decades refining these techniques. To see them now applied on a global conservation scale is deeply rewarding.” “That pride,” Russell adds, “motivates the Viagen team as they enter a new phase of scientific and conservation work.” The Future of Animal Cloning and Conservation Under Colossal and Viagen Viagen has already achieved world-first cloning milestones with species such as the black-footed ferret and Przewalski’s horse. “Colossal opens many new opportunities for Viagen to expand our endangered species work. Colossal is a major player in the global conservation arena and as a part of this team we will now be able to bring our capabilities into this broader network,” Russell said. He also emphasized the importance of preserving genetic material through cryopreservation. “Cryopreservation of samples is where this all begins. We must make certain to preserve current samples to have DNA available for ongoing work.” Russell said clients will benefit from the collaboration and the access it brings. “Through Colossal’s network, we can collaborate with institutions around the world. That global access means our cloning and preservation work can reach new species and ecosystems.” After more than two decades in animal genetics, Russell said he has “never been more excited.” “The vision, the energy, and the tools that Colossal bring will energize Viagen to achieve and exceed our dreams,” he concludes. “The world will be different because of the work we will do together.”
