How Microgravity Could Reshape Cancer Drug Manufacturing

Many of the world’s most critical cancer therapies require exhausting four-to-six-hour intravenous infusions in a hospital — a burden felt by patients and healthcare systems alike. One overlooked reason is the formulation itself: proteins that cannot be concentrated enough for a quick injection must instead be delivered slowly through a drip. London-based biotechnology startup BioOrbit wants to change this, using the microgravity environment which enables the production of purer, more uniform crystals — and potentially, more concentrated, shorter therapies.

Co-Founder and CEO Dr. Katie King, a nanomedicine researcher from Cambridge, leads the company in developing automated crystallisation hardware for the microgravity environment. BioOrbit has attracted early support from venture investors including Seedcamp and 7percent Ventures. The startup has also secured a grant from the UK Space Agency for its PHARM feasibility programme. Through this initiative, BioOrbit is collaborating with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency to explore regulatory pathways for space-manufactured drugs.

On Earth, gravity can disrupt the crystallisation of delicate proteins through two main physical forces: convection and sedimentation. Convection occurs because growing crystals change the density of the surrounding liquid, causing the fluid to move and create uneven crystal growth. Sedimentation happens when these crystals become heavy and settle at the bottom of their container, where they can deform or clump together. By moving this process to the microgravity environment of orbit, BioOrbit aims to reduce both effects. The fluid remains more stable, allowing proteins to assemble into more uniform and higher-quality crystals.

This opens the possibility of changing how certain treatments are delivered. Instead of spending hours attached to a hospital drip, patients may eventually be able to self-administer treatments at home using a quick subcutaneous injection, similar to an insulin pen. Some estimates suggest this shift could significantly reduce hospital administration costs while improving patient convenience.

BioOrbit plans to launch a proof-of-concept crystallisation system to the International Space Station in 2027, with the aim of progressing toward preclinical trials. However, translating microgravity experiments into scalable pharmaceutical manufacturing remains a significant technical and regulatory challenge. If successful, BioOrbit could lay the groundwork for more efficient and potent drug formulation.

Article Draft and AI generated Image by Benhur Santhosh

References:

UK sets out world‑leading pathway for space‑manufactured drugs

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-sets-out-world-leading-pathway-for-space-manufactured-drugs

UK Space Agency, MHRA, RIO and CAA set out support for in-orbit manufacturing of pharmaceuticals

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/joint-statement-from-the-uk-space-agency-the-medicines-and-healthcare-products-regulatory-agency-the-regulatory-innovation-office-and-the-civil-avia

Katie King, Co-founder & CEO presentation about BioOrbit