Varda Space Industries: Leading the Charge in Space-Bound Pharmaceuticals?

Success in Microgravity Drug Production

Varda Space Industries, founded by a former SpaceX engineer, has proven the feasibility of creating pharmaceuticals in space. In February, the company successfully returned ritonavir crystals-an HIV treatment-manufactured in microgravity, to Earth. Such achievements exploit the unique conditions of space, free from forces like sedimentation (particle settling) and gravity that hinder crystal formation on Earth. This allows for greater control, creating crystals of uniform size and new structural forms (polymorphs) of molecules. Consequently, the drugs can exhibit enhanced stability, higher purity, and longer shelf life.

The drug manufacturing process in space spans several weeks to months. According to their scenario, the W-1 capsule, developed by Varda, detaches from the spacecraft and re-enters Earth’s atmosphere at speeds over 30,000 kilometers per hour (18,641 mph). A carbon-based NASA-developed heat shield protects the payload from high temperatures, and a parachute ensures a soft landing.

Vision for Future Space Industry

Will Bruey anticipates a future where specialized spacecraft will regularly deliver Earth-bound pharmaceuticals produced in space. He also predicts that “in 15-20 years, sending an employee to space for a month to work at an orbital pharmaceutical factory will become more economically viable than maintaining them on Earth.”

According to Bruey, “The company isn’t just working within the space industry, but creating an industry in space, where space becomes just another delivery location.”

Varda does not develop new drugs but broadens the production capabilities of existing, approved drugs. Besides pharmaceuticals, Varda also offers hypersonic testing services. The company’s capsules enter the atmosphere at a speed of Mach 25, creating extreme conditions that cannot be replicated on Earth. This allows testing of materials, sensors, and navigation systems under real hypersonic flight conditions. The company has already conducted experiments for the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory.

Varda has secured $329 million in investments and plans to expand its pharmaceutical lab, hiring specialists in structural biology and crystallization to work with complex molecules, including monoclonal antibodies.

Moving Forward with Space-Based Manufacturing

Current research shows that Varda Space Industries continues to make significant strides in space manufacturing, especially after their successful February mission with ritonavir. The recent advancements include a collaboration with NASA to enhance thermal shield technologies, aiming to improve re-entry stability.

Will Bruey recently highlighted in a conference the growing economic viability of space-based drug manufacturing, which he argues is soon to reach a paradigm shift in production efficiency and accessibility. His focus remains on expanding the company’s research infrastructure to support this growth.