What Aquilon CyL does

Aquilón CyL (AQUILON CYL, S.L.) is a veterinary biotechnology company founded in 2012 as a spin-off from the University of León's DIGESPORC research group, headquartered in León, Spain. The company specializes in biological products for animal health, with a primary focus on porcine enteric diseases and broader livestock health. Its portfolio includes diagnostic products (notably Brucellin Aquilón, an EMA-registered intradermal test for swine brucellosis that eliminates false positives), vaccines (a Porcine Dysentery Vaccine submitted to EMA in February 2024, a BVD vaccine developed with VLPBio, and a Glässer's disease vaccine in development), probiotics for piglets and poultry, and the UDAvet diagnostic and autovaccine service unit. The company operates a ceparium of Brachyspira hyodysenteriae strains and offers MLVA strain characterization, an indirect ELISA, and PCR-based diagnostics.

Name

Aquilon CyL

Legal name

AQUILON CYL, S.L.

Website

https://aquiloncyl.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Acquired

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Aquilón CyL is a Spanish veterinary biotech spin-off from the University of León that develops and commercializes biological products — vaccines, diagnostics, autovaccines, and probiotics — for porcine and broader livestock health, most notably the first commercial vaccine against porcine dysentery and a pioneering EMA-registered brucellosis diagnostic.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Veterinary Biological Products

NAICS

Pharmaceutical Preparation Manufacturing (325412), Medical Laboratories (621511), Veterinary Services (54194)

SIC

Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836), Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834), In Vitro & In Vivo Diagnostic Substances (2835), Services-Medical Laboratories (8071)

akta.pro primary industry

Livestock Vaccines (Cattle, Swine, Sheep & Goats) (HLAMAKAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Livestock & Production Animal Therapeutics (Rx) (HLAMAEAB), Autogenous (Herd-Specific) Vaccines (HLAMAKAF), Vaccine Technology Platforms (Live, Inactivated, Subunit, Vector, mRNA/DNA) (HLAMAKAH)

Keywords

• Veterinary biological products
• Porcine health vaccines
• Animal health diagnostics
• Livestock disease management
• Autogenous vaccines

Headquarters

HQ city

León

HQ country

Spain

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Biological Product Sales: Aquilón generates revenue primarily through the sale of biological products including vaccines, autovaccines, and probiotic formulations for the animal health industry. Key products include vaccines for porcine dysentery and autovaccines developed for specific farm needs.
2. Diagnostic Services: The UDAvet unit provides fee-for-service veterinary diagnostic laboratory services for enteric diseases in pigs, including sample analysis, PCR testing, and serological diagnostics.
3. Product Licensing and Commercialization: Aquilón has initiated commercialization of Brucellin Aquilon following EMA registration, with a licensing agreement for distribution. Part of licensing revenues revert to originating institutions (Universidad de Navarra and CITA de Aragón).

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Aquilon CyL develops and commercializes biological products for animal health, including vaccines, autovaccines, probiotics, and diagnostic tests targeting porcine enteric diseases and other livestock conditions. The company operates UDAvet, a diagnostic laboratory offering veterinary diagnostic services and custom autovaccine development for swine farms. Its portfolio includes the first commercial vaccine against porcine dysentery, the Brucellin Aquilon intradermal diagnostic test for swine brucellosis, and several vaccine and probiotic projects in development.

Product overview

Aquilon CyL is a biotech spin-off from the University of León specializing in animal health, particularly porcine health. The company operates with a variable-cost business model to develop intellectual property acquired from research centers to maturity (TRL) levels that provide recognizable value for the pharmaceutical, animal health, and animal feed industries. Their product portfolio includes: Brucellin Aquilón (a registered intradermal diagnostic test for porcine brucellosis), UDAvet (diagnostic and autovaccine services for porcine enteropathies), and multiple vaccines in development including Vacuna Disentería Porcina (submitted to EMA), Vacuna Glässer, and Vacuna BVD. They also develop probiotic products for piglets and poultry. The company was acquired by Ceva Animal Health in 2025.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• UDAVet: Unidad de Diagnóstico y Autovacunas. A diagnostic service unit focused on the swine sector, providing laboratory diagnostic services and autovaccine development and project management for third parties.
• Brucellin Aquilón

Products and services

• Brucellin Aquilon An intradermal diagnostic test (immunological skin test) for the diagnosis of porcine brucellosis caused by Brucella suis. Developed from a genetically modified Brucella abortus strain that eliminates cross-reactions causing false positives in conventional tests. First diagnostic test of its kind worldwide without false positive risk. EMA registered in 2021, commercial launch in 2023.
• UDAvet (Unidad de Diagnostico y Autovacunas) Veterinary diagnostic service focused on the porcine sector and development/management of third-party laboratory projects. Provides rapid and reliable diagnosis of porcine enteropathies, sample collection and shipping protocols, clinical advice, and autovaccine development services.
• Vacuna Disenteria Porcina (Porcine Dysentery Vaccine) Vaccine against porcine dysentery caused by Brachyspira hyodysenteriae. Submitted to EMA for approval in February 2024. The first commercial vaccine against this disease.
• Vacuna contra la Enfermedad de Glasser (Glaser's Disease Vaccine) Vaccine in development against Glaser's disease caused by Glaesserella parasuis, a respiratory pathogen affecting pigs.
• Vacuna BVD (Bovine Viral Diarrhea Vaccine) Vaccine against Bovine Viral Diarrhea (BVD) virus using Virus-Like Particles (VLP) biotechnology, developed in collaboration with VLPBio and UAB. Project completed in 2023. Funded by EU Horizon 2020 SME Instrument Phase 2.
• Probioticos para Lechones (Probiotics for Piglets) Probiotic product in development for piglets to improve intestinal health and reduce antibiotic use.
• Probioticos para Aves (Probiotics for Poultry) Probiotic product in development for poultry to improve animal health.
• Autovacuna frente a Disenteria Porcina (Autovaccine for Porcine Dysentery) Custom autovaccine service for porcine dysentery control on individual farms, developed and produced for the specific needs of each client farm.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduced antibiotic use in livestock production through effective vaccination
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Ceva Animal HealthcoreOthers · 11 June 2026Aquilón was acquired by Ceva Animal Health, the world's fifth-largest animal health company. The acquisition enables international expansion of Aquilón's technologies, supports sustainable livestock production, and reduces antibiotic use. Aquilón's scientific team integrates into Ceva to reinforce its R&D capabilities.
• CZ Veterinaria / Zendal GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021CZ Veterinaria, part of the Zendal biopharmaceutical group located in O Porriño, Galicia, provided industrial-scale manufacturing capabilities for Brucellin Aquilon, meeting all required quality standards. The collaboration was essential for achieving product registration and commercialization.
• VLPBiocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Aquilón collaborated with VLPBio, a company from Valladolid, Spain, to develop a BVD vaccine based on Virus-Like-Particles (VLP) biotechnology. This project was funded by the EU Horizon 2020 SME Instrument Phase 2 and combines Aquilón's BVD antigens with VLPBio's VLP technology to create a DIVA-capable vaccine.
• Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona (UAB)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Aquilón collaborated with Enric Mateu from UAB on the BVD vaccine project. UAB provided scientific expertise and the project received EU Horizon 2020 funding.
• Universidad de NavarracoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2015Aquilón licensed the Brucellin technology from Universidad de Navarra, specifically the genetically modified Brucella strain developed by Professor Ignacio Moriyón. This licensing agreement began in 2015. Part of Brucellin Aquilon licensing revenues revert to the university.
• CITA de AragóncoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2015Aquilón licensed the Brucellin technology from CITA de Aragón, developed by Drs. José María Blasco and Pilar M. Muñoz. The technology was licensed in 2015. Part of revenues from commercialization revert to CITA.
• Janus Development S.L.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJanus Development S.L. participated in the founding of Aquilón as a spin-off from the University of León, providing business development expertise and support for technology transfer.
• Test and TrialsminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerTest and Trials provided services for the design and execution of complex safety and efficacy tests required for Brucellin Aquilon regulatory approval.
• AEMPS (Agencia Española de Medicamentos)minorOthersThe Spanish Agency of Medicines and Medical Devices provided regulatory guidance and approval for Brucellin Aquilon, working closely with Aquilón throughout the development process under the MUMS/Use Minor designation.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• HIPRA: Spanish-headquartered veterinary pharmaceutical company focused on livestock and companion animal vaccines and biologics. Like Aquilón, HIPRA develops and commercializes veterinary biological products with deep swine portfolio relevance and was founded as a Spain-based animal health specialist.

Broad incumbents

• Ceva Animal Health: World's fifth-largest animal health company and Aquilón's new parent following the June 2026 acquisition. Ceva is a broad incumbent across livestock and companion animal vaccines and pharmaceuticals, making it the closest large-scale animal health comparable and integration context for Aquilón's portfolio.
• Zoetis: Global animal health leader with a major swine vaccines and diagnostics portfolio including enteric disease solutions. As the largest player in the same end markets, Zoetis is a key broad incumbent comparable on both veterinary biologics R&D model and commercialization scale.
• Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health: Global animal health incumbent with a significant swine portfolio (including enteric and respiratory vaccines). Competes with Aquilón in the same European and global livestock vaccine market segments.
• Elanco Animal Health: Global animal health company covering livestock vaccines, parasiticides, and therapeutic biologics. Comparable to Aquilón as a broad incumbent serving livestock producers with a wide portfolio of animal health solutions.
• Vetoquinol: French-headquartered global animal health company with significant livestock and swine product lines. Comparable to Aquilón as a European-rooted broad incumbent in veterinary pharmaceuticals and biologicals.
• Phibro Animal Health: US-based animal health and nutrition company with a livestock vaccines and biologics business. Comparable to Aquilón as a smaller-than-Zoetis broad incumbent focused on livestock production animal health solutions.

Regional players

• Bioveta: Czech-headquartered veterinary vaccine manufacturer with strong livestock and poultry biologics portfolio serving Central/Eastern Europe. Comparable to Aquilón as a regionally focused veterinary biologics developer with overlapping species and product categories.

Others

• VLPBio: Spanish VLP technology platform company based in Valladolid that co-developed the BVD VLP-DIVA vaccine with Aquilón under the EU Horizon 2020 grant. VLPBio is an enabling technology collaborator rather than a competing vaccine developer, but is materially tied to Aquilón's cattle vaccine pipeline.
• CZ Veterinaria (Zendal Group): Galicia-based veterinary biologics manufacturer within the Zendal group that produced Brucellin Aquilón at industrial scale for EMA registration. Comparable as a veterinary biologics CDMO and a critical operational partner in commercial supply, rather than a competing product developer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Aquiloncyl

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds4 records

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Aquilon CyL