Kimera Biotecnologia

Kimera Biotecnologia is a Brazilian biotechnology startup based in Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, dedicated to the research, development and production of medicines for animal reproduction. The company was created in 2014 on the initiative of Dr. Camillo Del Cistia Andrade, then a postdoctoral researcher at the Laboratory of Glycobiology of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of São Paulo (USP). Its founding project was the development of a recombinant eCG (equine chorionic gonadotropin) as an alternative to the conventional product then used in the market. Kimera began operations in 2015 with headquarters at the SUPERA technology park in Ribeirão Preto. The company positions itself around animal welfare. Most similar hormones on the market are produced through the blood extraction of pregnant mares on so-called pregnant-mare farms, a practice criticized by animal-rights movements, particularly in the European Union. Kimera's mission is to end this practice by developing recombinant hormones made entirely in the laboratory, without animal suffering. Its product focus spans hormones, fertility and artificial insemination for livestock and other animals. Kimera was conceived as an international venture from the outset. It has received support and participated in acceleration and commercial programs in Brazil, the United States, Europe and Oceania. These include FAPESP PIPE 1 investment (2014), a commercial mission to the USA (2015), acceleration through the SPIN 2016 university network event in Spain, a visit to the BIOCANT technology park in Portugal (2016), acceleration by Biominas' Biostartup Lab (2018), FAPESP PIPE 2 investment (2017), a commercial mission to New Zealand (2019), and acceleration and investment by BiotechTown (2020–2021), where it won two Demoday awards. The company's technical team is composed of researchers and administrators with extensive experience in biosciences. Its partners include universities, accelerators and technology parks in Brazil and Europe, such as the University of São Paulo, FAPESP, UPTEC (University of Porto's business accelerator), BiotechTown and SUPERA Parque Tecnológico. Kimera remains a private startup and continues to pursue the development and production of Brazilian recombinant hormones for animal reproduction.

Kimera Biotecnologia was created in 2014 as a startup initiative by Dr. Camillo Del Cistia Andrade, a postdoctoral researcher at the Laboratory of Glycobiology of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of São Paulo (USP). The founding objective was to develop a recombinant eCG (equine chorionic gonadotropin) as an alternative to the product then used in animal reproduction. The company began its activities in 2015 with headquarters at the SUPERA technology park in Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo. From the beginning, Kimera was conceived as an international venture. It received early support and participated in events and acceleration programs across Brazil, the United States, Europe and Oceania. In 2014 it received investment from FAPESP through the PIPE 1 program. In 2015 it took part in a commercial mission to the United States. In 2016 it was accelerated at the SPIN event, a university network program in Spain, and visited the BIOCANT technology park in Portugal. In 2017 it received a second FAPESP investment through PIPE 2. In 2018 it was accelerated by Biostartup Lab, Biominas' company acceleration program. In 2019 it participated in a commercial mission to New Zealand. In 2020 and 2021 it was accelerated and invested in by BiotechTown, where it won two Demoday awards. The company's mission is centered on ending the practice of producing hormones through the blood extraction of pregnant mares on so-called pregnant-mare farms, a practice criticized by animal-rights movements, particularly in the European Union. Kimera develops recombinant hormones made entirely in the laboratory, aiming to eliminate animal suffering from the production of reproduction hormones. Kimera's technical team is formed by researchers and administrators with extensive experience in biosciences. Its partners include universities, accelerators and technology parks in Brazil and Europe, including the University of São Paulo (support in ideation and initial development), FAPESP (initial research financing), UPTEC (University of Porto's business accelerator), BiotechTown (accelerator and investor) and SUPERA Parque Tecnológico (incubator where the company is located). The company remains a private startup active in the development and production of medicines for animal reproduction.

• 2020

  Accelerated and invested in by BiotechTown; wins two Demoday awards (2020–2021).

• 2019

  Participates in a commercial mission to New Zealand.

• 2018

  Accelerated by Biostartup Lab, Biominas' company acceleration program.

• 2017

  Receives FAPESP PIPE 2 investment.

• 2016

  Accelerated at SPIN university network event in Spain; visits BIOCANT technology park in Portugal.

• 2015

  Begins activities with headquarters at SUPERA technology park in Ribeirão Preto; participates in a commercial mission to the USA.

• 2014

  Founded by Dr. Camillo Del Cistia Andrade; receives FAPESP PIPE 1 investment.

Animal-welfare-oriented biotech startup producing recombinant hormones made entirely in the laboratory as an alternative to hormones derived from pregnant mare blood.

• Recombinant eCG

  Recombinant equine chorionic gonadotropin developed as an animal-welfare alternative to hormones extracted from pregnant mare blood.

1. 1Kimera Biotecnologia | Hormônios | Fertilidade | Inseminação Artificialkimerabiotech.com
2. 2Sobre a Kimera | Kimera Biotecnologiakimerabiotech.com
3. 3Kimera Biotecnologia (Brazil) - Wikidatawikidata.org