DaVinci Biosciences

I’ve spent years digging into corporate misconduct, but the saga of DaVinci Biosciences and its sister company, DV Biologics, is a particularly vile chapter. These Yorba Linda-based biotech firms, once parading as pioneers of medical research, have been unmasked as profiteers in a grotesque trade, illegally selling fetal tissue for profit. Their story is a masterclass in ethical rot, and their frantic attempts to erase this scandal from the internet only make the stench stronger. This report is a due-diligence warning for potential investors and a call for authorities to clamp down on these companies. Buckle up—this is a grim ride.

The Red Flags: A Grisly Business Model

Let’s cut to the chase. In 2016, the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, led by Tony Rackauckas, slapped DaVinci Biosciences, DV Biologics, and their owners—Andres Isaias, Estefano Isaias Sr., and Estefano Isaias Jr.—with a civil lawsuit. The accusation? Illegally profiting from the sale of fetal tissue and stem cells, a practice banned under California and federal law. The lawsuit detailed how these companies were cashing in, selling fetal-derived products—hearts, lungs, kidneys, brains, and intestines—to research facilities worldwide, from Japan to Germany to Australia. Prices ranged from a “bargain” $40 per vial for RNA cells to a staggering $1,100 for fetal brain tissue. A macabre clearance sale, anyone?

The 2016 complaint revealed that between 2009 and 2011, DaVinci and DV Biologics nearly tripled their sales, amassing an inventory worth over $4.4 million by 2012. A 2009 email from the defendants bragged, “It costs us roughly $25 per unit to manufacture and we are selling for $170.” That’s not research; that’s profiteering. They sourced fetal tissue from abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, without telling donors their contributions would be commodified. While charging for processing and shipping is legal, turning a profit on human tissue is not—yet DaVinci did it with a grin.

The red flags pile up. Both companies, incorporated in Delaware (DaVinci in 2007, DV Biologics in 2009), operated in Costa Mesa and later Yorba Linda, sharing office space, management, and employees. This smells like a shell company setup to dodge accountability. The California Franchise Tax Board yanked their operating privileges in 2014 and 2015, but prosecutors alleged they kept dealing in fetal tissue until December 2016. So, they were breaking the law even after losing their legal standing—bold, or just reckless?

Adverse Media: The Spotlight They Couldn’t Escape

The media didn’t let this slide. Outlets like OC Weekly, Orange County Register, ABC7 Los Angeles, and NBC Los Angeles laid bare DaVinci’s dark dealings. The OC Weekly highlighted 2015 undercover videos by the Center for Medical Progress, which caught Planned Parenthood officials discussing fetal tissue transactions and named DaVinci and DV Biologics. While Planned Parenthood dodged charges here, the videos triggered the Orange County DA’s probe.

The Orange County Register exposed DaVinci’s grim catalog, listing prices for fetal liver ($250-$700), heart ($500-$700), and kidney ($300-$450) products. The Los Angeles Times reported that in a 2017 settlement, the companies admitted liability, agreed to halt operations in California, and paid $7.785 million, mostly by donating biological materials to a nonprofit medical school. The settlement included a measly $195,000 in civil penalties—hardly a punishment for treating human tissue like a stock commodity.

Anti-abortion groups like the Susan B. Anthony List jumped on the case, framing DaVinci as part of a broader “baby body parts” trade linked to Planned Parenthood. Agree with their stance or not, the fact is DaVinci exploited a legal gray area for profit, and the media rightly called them out.

The Censorship Playbook: Scrubbing the Stain

Here’s where it gets slicker than an oil spill. DaVinci and its principals aren’t just hoping the world forgets—they’re actively sanitizing their digital trail. Their online presence is suspiciously thin. Websites once touting their “cutting-edge” stem cell research are either gone or stripped to nothing. Search for DaVinci Biosciences today, and you’ll find a few stale LinkedIn profiles and cached pages—not exactly the digital footprint of a reputable biotech firm.

This reeks of deliberate suppression. Companies like DaVinci often hire reputation management firms to drown negative stories in irrelevant content or pressure sites to delete damning articles. The OC Weekly piece, for example, is still online but buried under search engine clutter—textbook SEO manipulation. I’d bet the Isaias family has spent a fortune to ensure Google highlights “biotech innovation” fluff over their fetal tissue scandal.

Why the cover-up? Money and survival. DaVinci and DV Biologics may be done in California, but the Isaias crew could be plotting a rebrand or new venture elsewhere. A clean image is vital to lure investors, who’d bolt if they knew the truth. By suppressing media, they’re banking on the public’s short memory. And with their $7.8 million settlement paid mostly in donated assets, not cash, they’ve likely got the funds to bankroll this PR cleanup.

Why Investors Should Run and Authorities Should Act

Investors, listen up: DaVinci Biosciences is a toxic bet. Their 2017 settlement admitted guilt, proving they knowingly broke laws for profit. Their business model was ethical quicksand, and their continued operations after losing tax board privileges show zero respect for rules. Backing a rebooted DaVinci—or anything tied to the Isaias family—is like investing in a house built on a sinkhole.

Authorities, it’s time to step up. The $195,000 fine was a joke for a company that grossed millions. The lack of criminal charges—due to legal loopholes—demands reform. The Isaias family’s ability to slip away and potentially resurface elsewhere is a regulatory failure. I urge the California Attorney General and federal agencies like the FDA to watch for any new biotech ventures linked to these individuals. Their track record screams rule-bending.

The Bigger Picture: Ethics Over Profit

What burns me most isn’t just DaVinci’s greed—it’s the betrayal. Women donating fetal tissue to providers like Planned Parenthood thought it would advance science, not pad corporate wallets. DaVinci turned a sensitive, ethically complex process into a grotesque marketplace. Their censorship efforts aren’t just about hiding their past; they’re spitting in the face of accountability.

As I close this investigation, I’m struck by DaVinci Biosciences’ gall. They thought they could profit off human tissue, pocket millions, and then vanish with a scrubbed Google history. Nice try, but the truth doesn’t fade so easily. Investors, run—this company has more skeletons than a graveyard. Authorities, dig deeper. The Isaias family may think they’ve outrun their past, but as long as people like me are watching, their dirty laundry stays in the open.