What Specipig does

Specipig is a preclinical Contract Research Organization (CRO) headquartered in El Prat de Llobregat (Barcelona), Spain, with operations dating back to 2012-2013. The company specializes in porcine (pig) models for biomedical research and operates a vertically integrated model that combines proprietary miniature pig breeding (the Specipig brand) with full-service preclinical CRO capabilities marketed under the Versa Biomedical brand, formally launched in April 2025. Versa Biomedical delivers GLP-certified in vivo preclinical studies for medical device, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and academic sponsors, covering drug development (pharmacokinetics, toxicokinetics, toxicity, pharmacodynamics, efficacy, safety), medical device biocompatibility testing, and bespoke disease models across ophthalmology, radiology, cardiology, neurology, endoscopy, urology, and dental/maxillofacial disciplines.

The underlying technology stack is operational rather than digital: an in-house miniature pig breeding program, three fully equipped research sites plus an analytical laboratory totaling 2,400 square metres (expanded 2022), a neonatal intensive care unit (opened 2022), and a network of specialist surgeon collaborators. Regulatory scaffolding includes GLP certification equivalent to FDA 21 CFR Part 58, ISO 13485, and ISO 9001, positioning the firm for regulated medical device and pharmaceutical submissions.

The business model is project-based B2B professional services revenue: each contract is individually scoped, quotation-based (pricing not publicly disclosed), with study initiation timelines of 1 to 3 months. GTM is enterprise field sales, supported by a dedicated Head of Commercial and BD (Assela Bosch), direct sales outreach at conferences such as BIO International Convention 2025, and a content/news presence on its website. The firm has completed over 200 customized projects for sponsors across 14 countries over 12 years of operation. Primary customer segments are medical device companies, pharmaceutical companies, and biotechnology companies; research institutes form a secondary segment. Ownership is private and founder/management-controlled, with no disclosed venture capital or institutional backing.

Name

Specipig

Legal name

Specipig

Website

https://specipig.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Specipig is a Barcelona-based preclinical CRO specializing in porcine models, combining proprietary miniature pig breeding with GLP, ISO 13485, and ISO 9001-certified preclinical research services for pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device sponsors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Preclinical Contract Research Services

NAICS

Animal Production and Aquaculture (112), Support Activities for Animal Production (11521), Hog and Pig Farming (112210)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)

akta.pro primary industry

Preclinical CROs (Discovery/Pharmacology/DMPK) (HLAGAAAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Toxicology & Safety Assessment CROs (GLP) (HLAGAAAC), High-Health/Biosecure Hog Production (SPF/Pedigree Nucleus) (AFAEAEAL), Feeder Pig Production & Sales (AFAEAEAH)

Keywords

• Preclinical CRO services
• Porcine model research
• Contract research organization
• Biomedical animal models
• Medical device preclinical testing

Headquarters

HQ city

Barcelona

HQ country

Spain

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Preclinical Contract Research Services: The company provides preclinical CRO services including in vivo studies, preclinical trials for medical devices, and drug development services for pharmaceutical companies. Revenue is generated through project-based contracts that can range from 1 to 3 months to initiate.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Specipig is a preclinical Contract Research Organization specialized in porcine (pig) models that delivers contract research services to pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device companies. The company combines its own miniature pig breeding program with full-service CRO capabilities (under the Versa Biomedical brand), designing flexible, ad hoc in vivo studies including preclinical trials, pharmacokinetics, toxicokinetics, efficacy and safety studies, and biocompatibility/device testing under GLP, ISO 13485, and ISO 9001 certifications.

Product overview

Specipig operates as a two-part organization: Specipig breeds and markets miniature pigs for biomedical research, while Versa Biomedical provides full-service preclinical CRO capabilities. Together, they offer an integrated preclinical research solution combining proprietary animal models with comprehensive contract research services, enabling pharmaceutical companies to conduct drug development studies and medical device companies to perform device testing and biocompatibility studies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Versa Biomedical Preclinical CRO Services Full-service preclinical contract research for pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device companies, including in vivo studies, GLP-compliant preclinical trials, pharmacokinetics, toxicokinetics, efficacy and safety studies, device testing, and regulatory submission support. Delivered onsite at the company's GLP-certified facilities in Barcelona.
• Specipig Miniature Pigs for Preclinical Research Proprietary miniature pigs bred and supplied by Specipig for use in preclinical biomedical, pharmaceutical, and medical device research programs. Provided as an integrated animal model supply alongside CRO services.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 200 customized projects completed in 14 countries over 12 years

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• UPyThercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023UPyTher selected Versa Biomedical for development of their custom drug delivery solution for treatment of peritoneal diseases including metastasized colorectal and ovarian cancer.
• Germans Trias i Pujol Institute (IGTP)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Collaborative research partnership where CMN research group researchers developed and established a novel reproducible and minimally invasive ischemic stroke model in swine, leveraging Versa Biomedical's facilities and expertise.
• Zircon MedicalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Zircon selected Versa Biomedical for preclinical development of Y-TZP Zirconia implant solution, conducting studies for dental implant applications.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• WuXi AppTec (WuXi Biology / Preclinical): Global preclinical CRO with extensive in vivo and safety assessment services. Specipig and WuXi compete for outsourced preclinical study contracts from international pharma/biotech sponsors, though WuXi operates at much greater scale.
• Charles River Laboratories: Global preclinical CRO with broad species coverage including swine models for safety assessment and biomedical research. Comparable as a direct competitor in the preclinical CRO category but at vastly larger scale with rodents, NHPs and additional services beyond Specipig's pig-model niche.
• Labcorp Drug Development (Fortrea): Large CRO offering preclinical services including large-animal and medical device programs. A relevant buyer consideration for any sponsor choosing between full-service incumbents and a specialized mini-pig CRO like Specipig.
• Inotiv: Preclinical CRO and research models provider offering surgical and toxicology services, including large-animal capabilities. Competitor for preclinical study outsourcing work across pharma and medical device sponsors.
• SNBL USA: Preclinical CRO with NHP and large-animal experience supporting safety assessment and regulatory toxicology for pharma and device sponsors. Comparable CRO sale motion and regulatory-grade deliverables to Versa Biomedical's offering.
• Evotec (Crossbow Therapeutics / Preclinical): Drug discovery and preclinical CRO with growing in vivo capabilities. Indirect competitor for outsourced preclinical work and a potential partner or acquirer of niche preclinical capabilities like Specipig's.

Emerging players

• Marshall BioResources: Provider of research models including minipigs (Göttingen and Sinclair lines) and contract research services. Comparable as a combined model supplier + services organization targeting the same preclinical sponsor base.
• Crown Bioscience: Preclinical CRO with oncology and translational research expertise, including large-animal and surgical model capability. Comparable preclinical services target customer and CRO sale motion (pharma/biotech sponsorship).

Direct peers

• Sinclair Research: Preclinical CRO specializing in minipig and other large-animal models for safety, pharmacology and medical device studies. Closest niche competitor given overlapping minipig expertise and sponsor profile (pharma + medtech).
• Ellegaard Göttingen Minipigs: Leading commercial breeder and supplier of Göttingen minipigs for biomedical research worldwide. Directly comparable to Specipig's animal-model supply side and overlap with the CRO buyer base for porcine preclinical studies.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses6 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/versa-biomedical
• Xx.com/specipig

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Specipig