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Top scientist stole trade secrets from startup that wants to bring back extinct species: bombshell suit
New York Post • • science
Key Points:
- Colossal Biosciences, a startup focused on de-extinction efforts like reviving the woolly mammoth, is suing former VP James Kehler for allegedly stealing trade secrets and sharing confidential data with rival labs.
- The lawsuit claims Kehler transferred sensitive files to personal devices before leaving and subsequently used this information in his roles at competing companies Neion Bio and Felix Pets.
- Colossal emphasizes that its proprietary scientific information is crucial to its competitive edge and mission to restore extinct species, warning that unauthorized disclosure could cause severe harm.
- The company, valued at $10.2 billion after raising $200 million in early 2025, is working on multiple species including the woolly mammoth, dodo, thylacine, and dire wolf.
- Founded in 2021 by Ben Lamm and geneticist George Church, Colossal has attracted high-profile investors like Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, and Paul Tudor Jones.
