CrofaBiotech raises $6M seed to develop pig organs for transplants in Argentina
What's the deal? Argentine biotech CrofaBiotechDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → has raised a $6 million seed round to develop genetically modified pigs whose kidneys and hearts could one day be used in human transplants. Grupo Avalian invested through its Instituto de Alta ComplejidadDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, adding clinical capacity and transplant research experience. Forbes Argentina reported the funding on October 14, 2026.
The details: The seed round follows a $700,000 pre-seed, bringing the total to $6.7 million from national and international funds. The other investors were not named.
What's the endgame? Part of the capital will fund specialized facilities in Buenos Aires province to raise donor pigs under international health standards, free of certain pathogens and retroviruses. In April 2026, the company produced what it describes as the first cloned pig in Latin America with a triple knockout — three edits meant to neutralize immune rejection, the third such case reported worldwide.
Why now? More than 7,000 people are waiting for a transplant in Argentina, and about 2,500 transplants have been carried out so far in 2026, according to Forbes Argentina. The World Health Organization estimates traditional donation covers less than 10% of global transplant needs.
CrofaBiotech was incorporated around 2022 by three founders linked to the Universidad Nacional de San Martín. Co-founder Adrián Abalovich, a transplant surgeon, said the goal was to stop importing cells and build "scientific, genetic and productive capacity in Argentina."
What's next? The company has approval from CONABIA, the national agricultural biotechnology commission, and is in technical talks with INCUCAI, the national transplant agency. Co-founder Adrián Mutto estimated advanced preclinical and clinical trials could begin in about two years, subject to results and authorizations.
What could go wrong? Xenotransplantation remains unproven in routine clinical use, and timelines hinge on regulatory approvals. CrofaBiotech is still weighing its path: licensing its gene-editing platform internationally, or producing and supplying organs locally.
The signal: At $6 million, this seed ranks among the largest ever for a health startup in its bracket. It places Argentina in a global race alongside US players such as RevivicorDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → and eGenesis, and United Therapeutics, which is testing pig kidneys in patients with end-stage kidney disease.
Read more: born2invest.com
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