Manifest Space with Morgan Brennan Varda Closes $187 Million Series C Round with Varda Space CEO Will Bruey 7/11/25
Jul 11, 2025
Will Bruey, CEO and co-founder of Varda Space, discusses the company's groundbreaking work in in-space manufacturing and its recent $187 million funding round. He explains the revolutionary potential of drug manufacturing in microgravity, detailing partnerships with pharmaceutical firms and the establishment of a biologics lab. Bruey also addresses innovations in hypersonic testing for the defense sector, enabling cost-effective testing at extreme speeds, and shares insights on scaling operations for future growth in the commercial space landscape.
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Microgravity Enables Novel Drug Formulations
- Varda Space uses microgravity in orbit to create new drug formulations impossible to make on Earth.
- This expands options like changing pills to inhalable or injectable forms, enhancing patient experience.
Cost-Effective Space Drug Missions
- Varda launches spacecraft sharing a rocket ride with 20+ other satellites to reduce costs.
- After manufacturing drugs in microgravity, capsules return to Earth at Mach 25 and land softly by parachute for recovery.
Flying Ritonavir Demonstrated Potential
- Varda flew ritonavir on its first mission, a drug previously recalled due to crystal form issues.
- This demonstrated how microgravity manufacturing could have prevented manufacturing failures.