Colossal Sues Ex-Scientist Over Alleged Trade Secret Theft
Startup claims former VP stole confidential data for rival labs.
The Brief
- Colossal Biosciences sues James Kehler for allegedly stealing trade secrets.
- Forensic analysis found Kehler transferred confidential files to personal devices.
- Kehler joined competing lab Neion Bio and is linked to Felix Pets.
Colossal Biosciences has filed a lawsuit against James Kehler, a former vice president of animal sciences, alleging he stole trade secrets and shared confidential data with rival labs.
The lawsuit, filed in Texas federal court, claims Kehler breached three contracts after leaving Colossal for competing organizations, including Neion Bio and Felix Pets.
Forensic analysis of Kehler’s former work laptop revealed he moved files containing confidential information to a personal cloud account and multiple personal devices before leaving the company.
Kehler, who resides in Maryland, had access to Colossal’s most sensitive scientific data, including details on its avian programs such as work on the dodo bird and the moa.
According to the lawsuit, Kehler joined Neion Bio in early 2026 and used Colossal’s trade secrets and confidential information, which the company claims are essential to its de-extinction mission.
Colossal is represented by attorney Alex Spiro of Quinn Emanuel and is seeking damages, arguing that Kehler’s actions would allow competitors to replicate its research at a fraction of the cost.
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