Bold Names The New Pharma Frontier: Could Drugs Made in Space Help You Live Longer?
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Oct 11, 2024 Eric Lasker, an executive at Varda Space Industries, and Sita Sonty, former CEO of Space Tango, explore the revolutionary potential of manufacturing pharmaceuticals in space. They discuss how microgravity can enhance drug development, particularly for personalized gene therapies. The duo dives into the challenges of retrieving space-made products and highlights a cancer therapeutic study conducted in orbit. Their conversation not only paints a picture of future healthcare innovations but also emphasizes the importance of equitable access to these groundbreaking therapies.
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Varda's First Test
- Varda Space Industries launched a test capsule with an automated factory to make crystals for an HIV drug.
- This test demonstrated the feasibility of producing pharmaceuticals in orbit and returning them to Earth.
Microgravity Explained
- Microgravity, synonymous with zero gravity, is a state of free fall where objects experience minimal gravitational forces.
- This stable environment enables unique material production processes, like suppressing convection currents.
Keytruda in Space
- Merck conducted a study on the ISS to improve their cancer drug Keytruda.
- A single operation in microgravity refined the drug's crystal structure, allowing for subcutaneous injections instead of intravenous.