{{Short description|Animal cloning company}} {{use mdy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{Infobox company | logo = File:Logo_of_the_company_Viagen_Pets.png | hq_location_city = Cedar Park, Texas | hq_location_country = United States | type = Division | parent = Colossal Biosciences | website = {{URL|https://viagenpets.com/}} | founded = {{start date and age|2002}} }}
'''ViaGen Pets & Equine''', based in Cedar Park, Texas, is a division of Colossal Biosciences that offers animal cloning services. ViaGen's Pets division was launched in 2016.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Castillo |first=Michelle |date=2018-03-08 |title=This woman paid $50,000 to clone her dead chihuahua...twice |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2018/03/08/viagen-pets-cloned-a-chihuahua-for-50000.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180308180050/https://www.cnbc.com/2018/03/08/viagen-pets-cloned-a-chihuahua-for-50000.html |archive-date=2018-03-08 |access-date=2020-06-06 |website=CNBC |language=en}}</ref>
==Technology and patents== ViaGen Pets offers cloning as well as DNA preservation services, sometimes called tissue or cell banking.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Claiborne |first=Casey |date=2020-01-11 |title=Cedar Park company ViaGen cloning favorite pets |url=https://www.fox7austin.com/news/cedar-park-company-viagen-cloning-favorite-pets |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200111224430/https://www.fox7austin.com/news/cedar-park-company-viagen-cloning-favorite-pets |archive-date=2020-01-11 |access-date=2020-06-06 |website=FOX 7 Austin |language=en-US}}</ref>
ViaGen's subsidiary, Start Licensing, owns a cloning patent which is licensed to their only competitor as of 2018, who also offers animal cloning services.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Baron |first=Jessica |date=2018-12-24 |title=If You Love Animals, Don't Clone Your Pet |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/jessicabaron/2018/12/24/if-you-love-animals-dont-clone-your-pet/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225123530/https://www.forbes.com/sites/jessicabaron/2018/12/24/if-you-love-animals-dont-clone-your-pet/ |archive-date=2018-12-25 |access-date=2020-06-06 |website=Forbes |language=en}}</ref> The cloning process used by both ViaGen and their competitor is somatic cell nuclear transfer, the same as which was used for cloning Dolly the Sheep.<ref name=":1" />
== History == ViaGen was founded in Austin, Texas in 2002.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |last=Pauda |first=Erica |date=2025-11-04 |title=Colossal Biosciences acquires Austin-based company, Viagen Pets and Equine |url=https://www.kxan.com/news/texas/colossal-biosciences-acquires-austin-based-company-viagen-pets-and-equine/ |access-date=2025-11-16 |work=KXAN}}</ref> ViaGen began by offering cloning to the livestock and equine industry in 2003,<ref name=":0" /> and later included cloning of cats and dogs in 2016.<ref>{{Cite web |author= |date=May 18, 2020 |title=Viagen Pets take animal cloning from research lab to marketplace |url=https://www.wtoc.com/2020/05/18/viagen-pets-take-animal-cloning-research-lab-marketplace/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200606085541/https://www.wtoc.com/2020/05/18/viagen-pets-take-animal-cloning-research-lab-marketplace/ |archive-date=2020-06-06 |access-date=2020-06-06 |website=WTOC |language=en-US}}</ref>
In 2020, ViaGen achieved the first successful cloning of an endangered species in the United States, the black-footed ferret.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Snider |first=Mike |date=2025-11-04 |title=Biotech company Colossal, which brought dire wolves back to life, acquires Viagen |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2025/11/04/colossal-biosciences-acquires-cloning-company-viagen/86988964007/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251117013823/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2025/11/04/colossal-biosciences-acquires-cloning-company-viagen/86988964007/ |archive-date=2025-11-17 |access-date=2025-11-17 |website=USA Today |language=en-US}}</ref> As of 2025, ViaGen had successfully cloned 15 species, including Przewalski’s horse.<ref name=":3" />
In November 2025, ViaGen was acquired by Colossal Biosciences.<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.statesman.com/business/technology/article/colossal-biosciences-viagen-animal-cloning-acquire-21135191.php|title=Colossal Biosciences acquires Texas-based biotech company specializing in animal cloning|work=Austin American-Statesman|access-date=2025-11-27|language=en}}</ref>
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == * {{Official website|https://www.viagenpets.com|ViaGen Pets}} official website
Category:Cloning Category:Companies based in Texas Category:Companies based in Cedar Park, Texas Category:American companies established in 2016 Category:Biotechnology companies of the United States Category:2025 mergers and acquisitions {{us-company-stub}}