The space race is coming for pharma: Why drug development is heading to lower Earth orbit

The highly anticipated SpaceX mega-IPO is part of a space frenzy that is moving beyond satellite connectivity, launch vehicles, and aerospace defense to the pharmaceutical sector. A growing number of companies are heading to lower Earth orbit to make medicines in zero gravity. The range of commercial opportunities is expanding as foundational aerospace industries set the necessary infrastructure. Morgan Stanley predicts the space economy could surpass $1 trillion by 2040 , and while industries from semiconductors to fiber-optic cables stand to benefit, medicine could see the most immediate disruption. Last year, space and defense technology company Redw ire formed a dedicated subsidiary, SpaceMD, to commercialize pharmaceutical products developed in space. It has spent years developing orbital bioprinting but sees its most commercial opportunity in creating ways to administer drugs to patients. The most successful technology is the PIL-BOX, a new drug formulation technology, SpaceMD CEO John Vellinger told CNBC. SpaceMD has already flown 54 PIL-BOX units – specialized, automated micro-laboratories designed to crystallize proteins in orbit – and has tested 37 drug compounds, he said. "We've worked with Eli Lilly , Bristol Myers Squibb , other pharma companies, and we've shown them these new crystal forms, and they want to continue to bring us new drug candidates," Vellinger said. …