Redwire and SpaceMD: Advancing Pharmaceuticals in Space

Redwire, through its subsidiary SpaceMD, has made strides in space-based pharmaceutical research. The company has bought the first operational flight of SpaceX’s Starfall to enhance drug development using microgravity to boost their effectiveness.

Should space-manufactured drugs come to fruition, they would represent the first physical creations made beyond our planet. Until now, successful commercial space products have included Earth observation and satellite communications. Past research on the International Space Station and earlier on the shuttle have explored this potential.

SpaceMD’s utilization of Starfall signals significant progress toward producing treatments for diseases like cancer and Alzheimer’s in low Earth orbit. The SpaceX Starfall initially launched on a Falcon 9 on June 23 for a test flight, though compatible with Starship as well. This disk-shaped spacecraft measures around 2.5 feet in height and 10.2 feet in diameter, weighing roughly 4,600 pounds and carrying approximately 2,200 pounds of cargo. The Starfall is composed of an aluminum top plate and a detachable carbon-fiber heat shield, where the cargo is nestled.

A typical Starfall mission involves taking payloads to low Earth orbit, staying there temporarily, and then reentering Earth’s atmosphere to land in the ocean. The SpaceMD mission is set for 2028, planning to utilize up to 32 Pharmaceutical In-Space Laboratory units, or PIL-BOXes, to crystalize drug compounds in microgravity. This will support improved formulations and the development of new therapies.

Redwire previously deployed PIL-BOX versions on the International Space Station. Starfall’s capabilities will significantly boost their research efforts in space. According to Tech Times, SpaceMD can process over 100 unique drug compounds on a single Starfall mission, compared to 45 on the ISS. Examples include compounds for insulin, cancer, cardiovascular disease, obesity, and diabetes.

Space-based drug crystallization avoids Earth-bound challenges like gravity and temperature fluctuations. Crystals formed in space are larger and more orderly, impacting their dissolution rate, solubility, and bioavailability when entering the bloodstream, as detailed by Tech Times.

This crystal growth marks only the first step toward new pharmaceuticals usable in clinical settings. SpaceMD holds a licensing agreement with ExesaLibero Pharma to convert these space-grown crystals into drugs, subject to rigorous clinical trials and regulatory processes. Royalties will benefit Redwire for each marketable drug from these space-grown crystals.

Predicting specific treatments from space-made drugs remains uncertain, but they offer hope for those facing severe illnesses. For instance, the National Cancer Institute projects over 2.1 million cancer diagnoses by 2026, with 626,140 deaths. Similarly, the CDC estimates that 6.7 million American adults currently live with Alzheimer’s, expected to double by 2060. Effective treatments would significantly reduce these numbers and the associated human suffering and healthcare costs.

Historically, space activities were seen as intriguing yet peripheral to immediate earthly priorities. Critiques came from figures like Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), targeting commercial space ventures by Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos, often in collaboration with NASA and the Defense Department. However, dismissing space exploration and development proves increasingly difficult. Substantial benefits are seen from this frontier, poised to expand through companies like Redwire. These endeavors promise not only enhanced pharmaceuticals but broad applications in the commercial space age.

Mark R. Whittington is a frequent writer on space policy and has authored political studies on space exploration, including “Why is It So Hard to Go Back to the Moon?” and “The Moon, Mars and Beyond.” His latest work, “Why is America Going Back to the Moon?”, continues his exploration of the topic.