Kheiron Biotech

What Kheiron Biotech does

Kheiron Biotech is an Argentine biotechnology company headquartered at Parque Austral in Pilar (Buenos Aires province), operating as a subsidiary of the Proinvesa Group. Founded in 2012, the firm specializes in advanced equine reproductive technologies — specifically somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) cloning, CRISPR/Cas9-based gene editing, adult stem cell therapy, and cryogenic gene banking — with a flagship track record in cloning elite Argentine polo horses (e.g., Silvina Luna, Virolita, Birra, Lode, Levicu) and more recently jumping horses for European clients such as Zangersheide Belgium.

The company's core technology stack combines SCNT — the technique used to produce Dolly the sheep — with CRISPR/Cas9 editing that uses only native (wild-type) gene variants, producing edited animals that are genetically indistinguishable from those obtainable through conventional breeding. This non-transgenic architecture is engineered to sidestep GMO regulatory classification. Its scientific milestones include the world's first birth of eight simultaneous clones from a single animal (Virolita, February 2017) and the first CRISPR-Cas9 gene-edited equine embryos (December 2017, in collaboration with FLENI). R&D programs extend the platform into bovine myostatin editing (food industry), equine sport-performance optimization, and porcine organ humanization for xenotransplantation.

Commercially, Kheiron operates a high-touch, direct-sales B2B services model: veterinary teams travel to client farms to collect genetic material, with each project priced bespoke and not publicly disclosed. Revenue streams include professional-services cloning, gene editing, stem cell therapy, and a subscription-style gene banking product. Customers are concentrated in a narrow tier of high-net-worth polo professionals, elite breeders (notably Doña Sofía Polo as a flagship client and channel partner), and select international sport-horse registries. The company has no disclosed external venture funding, operates with 11–50 employees, and depends on earned media and academic partnerships (notably Acceligen/Recombinetics in the US and FLENI in Argentina) for both distribution and scientific validation.

Name

Kheiron Biotech

Legal name

Kheiron Biotech

Website

https://kheiron-biotech.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Kheiron Biotech is an Argentine biotech firm specializing in elite equine SCNT cloning, CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing, stem cell therapy, and gene banking, serving high-net-worth polo professionals, sport-horse breeders, and select livestock and regenerative medicine clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Animal Biotechnology Services

NAICS

Horses and Other Equine Production (112920), Veterinary Services (54194), All Other Animal Production (11299)

SIC

Agricultural Prod-Livestock & Animal Specialties (200), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836)

akta.pro primary industry

Cloning & Advanced Reproductive Technologies Services (AFAEAJAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Equine Reproduction Services (Embryo Transfer, AI, Fertility Clinics) (AFAEAGAK), Cell & Gene Therapy for Veterinary Regeneration (HLAMANAD), Reproduction, Breeding & Theriogenology (Large Animal/Equine) (HLAMABAG)

Keywords

• Equine cloning services
• Animal gene editing
• Stem cell therapy
• Animal biotechnology
• Gene banking services

Headquarters

HQ city

Pilar

HQ country

Argentina

HQ region

Latin America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Equine Cloning Services: Reproduction services producing genetic replicas of top-performing horses including polo ponies, sport horses, and exceptional geldings. Revenue generated from specialized cloning procedures with premium pricing reflecting the advanced technology and high-value target animals.
2. Gene Editing Services: CRISPR/Cas9-based gene editing to improve athletic performance, repair genetic defects, and enhance desirable traits in equines and livestock. Combined with cloning for accelerated genetic improvement.
3. Stem Cell Therapy: Adult stem cell treatments for horses with chronic conditions, injuries, and arthritis. Treatment plans delivered through veterinary services at client facilities.
4. Gene Banking: Cryogenic preservation services for genetic material storage, with cells maintained indefinitely for future cloning, gene mapping, or stem cell therapy applications.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Kheiron Biotech is a biotechnology company that provides equine cloning via somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT), adult stem cell therapy for chronic equine injuries, and cryogenic gene banking services to preserve elite horse genetics. The company combines proprietary SCNT cloning with CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing under a "Precision Genetic Progress" methodology, enabling generation of genetic replicas of elite polo and sport horses and the introduction of desirable native genes without transgenic modifications. Services are delivered through mobile veterinary teams that travel to client farms and stables across Argentina and selected international clients.

Product overview

Kheiron Biotech is a biotechnology company specializing in equine cloning and advanced reproductive technologies. The company operates three core service products: Cloning (genetic replication of elite horses), Stem Cells (adult stem cell therapy for injuries and chronic conditions), and Gene Banking (cryogenic preservation of genetic material). The company also maintains active research and development programs in Gene Editing using CRISPR/Cas technology, Sport Performance improvements, Xenotransplantation (porcine organ generation), and Food Industry applications. The products form an integrated offering where gene banking enables future cloning, while gene editing enhances the genetic potential of cloned animals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Equine Cloning Somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) cloning service that produces genetic replicas of top-performing polo ponies, sport horses, broodmares, and exceptional geldings for breeders, polo players, and equestrian professionals.
• Adult Stem Cell Therapy Adult stem cell treatment for horses addressing chronic conditions such as arthritis, tendon and ligament injuries, and fractures that have not responded to conventional therapies. Delivered through mobile veterinary teams at client facilities.
• Gene Banking Cryogenic preservation and storage of equine genetic material (cells) for indefinite future use in cloning, gene mapping, or stem cell therapy applications. Provides genetic insurance against loss through injury or death.

Quantifiable outcome

• First gene-edited equine embryos produced using CRISPR-Cas9 technology globally (December 2017)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• Acceligen (Recombinetics Group)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2019Kheiron-Biotech, part of the Proinvesa Group, signed a partnership agreement with North American company Acceligen, a leader in gene editing belonging to the Recombinetics group. The alliance focuses on precision breeding projects combining Kheiron's cloning capabilities with Acceligen's gene editing expertise. The partnership aims to advance genetic improvement in livestock and potentially other species through combined technologies.
• FLENI (Fundación para la Lucha contra las Enfermedades Neurológicas Infantil)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2017Collaboration with FLENI researchers to develop cloned equine embryos with improved genomes using CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing technology. This partnership produced the world's first gene-edited equine embryos, representing a major scientific breakthrough. FLENI contributes neurological and biomedical research expertise to the gene editing research.
• Doña Sofía Polo / Cabaña Doña SofíaflagshipChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor strategic customer and long-term collaborator in polo genetics. Doña Sofía is the largest customer, owning multiple clones (Lode, Levicu, Birra) and collaborating actively on breeding programs. Cabaña Doña Sofía - Genetic Innovation serves as a channel partner for genetic products and services.
• Proinvesa GroupflagshipOthersKheiron Biotech is part of the Proinvesa Group, which includes affiliated companies Proinvet, PregAll, Taurón (bovine reproduction), Doña Sofía Polo, and Cabaña Doña Sofía. The group structure provides corporate backing, shared resources, and integrated distribution across equestrian and agricultural sectors.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Cryozootech: Pioneer French equine cloning company that produced the first cloned horse (Prometea, 2003). Historically the global benchmark in equine SCNT and a direct technical peer to Kheiron despite limited recent activity.
• Acceligen (Recombinetics): US-based gene editing company focused on livestock and aquaculture traits, and a current Kheiron partner. Directly comparable in applying CRISPR-based precision breeding for animal agriculture and aquaculture performance traits.
• Taurón (Proinvesa Group): Affiliated Proinvesa Group company focused on bovine reproduction and embryo transfer in Argentina. Operates within the same parent group as Kheiron and shares the equine/livestock reproduction customer base in the region.
• ViaGen Pets & Equine: US-based cloning service for horses, pets, and livestock. Most direct global competitor to Kheiron in commercial equine cloning, serving similar elite equestrian and sport-horse customers with comparable SCNT technology.

Broad incumbents

• Zoetis: Global animal health leader offering veterinary pharmaceuticals, biologics, diagnostics, and equine health products. Comparable in serving elite equine veterinarians and breeders, though Zoetis operates across all species rather than specializing in equine cloning.
• Genus plc: UK-listed global animal genetics company operating in bovine and porcine breeding, with active programs in gene-edited livestock (PRRSV-resistant pigs). A broad incumbent whose genetics platform and livestock distribution competes with Kheiron's bovine ambitions at scale.
• STgenetics: US-based bovine genetics and reproductive services company with significant investments in sexed semen, embryo transfer, and genomic selection. Provides comparable reproductive technology services for livestock at industrial scale.

Emerging players

• eGenesis: US biotech using CRISPR gene editing and cloning to develop human-compatible pig organs for transplantation. Comparable technology stack and end-market overlap with Kheiron's xenotransplantation R&D program.
• Revivicor (United Therapeutics): US-based gene editing and cloning company developing porcine organs for human xenotransplantation. Directly overlaps with Kheiron's R&D pipeline in humanized organ generation through SCNT + gene editing.

Others

• CRISPR Therapeutics: Clinical-stage human CRISPR gene editing company co-founded by Emmanuelle Charpentier. Not a direct competitor but an enabling/ecosystem peer given shared CRISPR IP origins and licensing relationships across the gene editing field.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

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 Kheiron Biotech