Early successes in space-based research are proving the commercial value of microgravity, offering pharmaceutical companies a clear path to extending patents, improving therapies, and gaining a competitive edge.
TL;DR: Key Takeaways for R&D Leaders
While the scientific principles of microgravity are compelling, the true measure of its value lies in real-world application. A growing number of successful projects are moving from academic curiosity to commercial viability, demonstrating clear pathways to clinical and financial returns. These early wins provide a tangible blueprint for how pharmaceutical and biotech companies can leverage space to solve critical challenges on Earth.
Merck’s Keytruda, a blockbuster immunotherapy drug, generates tens of billions in annual revenue. To improve patient convenience and potentially extend its market exclusivity beyond its 2028 patent expiry, Merck explored developing a subcutaneous (under-the-skin) injection to replace its standard intravenous (IV) infusion. A key challenge was creating a stable, highly concentrated formulation.
Aboard the International Space Station (ISS), experiments demonstrated that in microgravity, the drug’s active ingredient could be crystallized into more uniform particles. This uniformity is critical for developing a stable, high-concentration injectable. The success of this research provides a pathway for a new delivery method that could dramatically improve patient quality of life and reduce healthcare system costs. More importantly for Merck, a new formulation can lead to new patents, protecting a multi-billion-dollar revenue stream from generic competition for years to come.
Degenerative eye diseases that cause blindness affect millions worldwide. The startup LambdaVision is pioneering an artificial retina using a protein-based implant, but its delicate manufacturing process faces a major hurdle on Earth: gravity. The layer-by-layer assembly of the implant is so fine that the layers tear under their own weight.
In microgravity, this problem disappears. With support from NASA and the ISS National Lab, LambdaVision has conducted multiple missions to manufacture its artificial retina in orbit. The zero-g environment allows for the flawless deposition of ultra-thin protein layers, a level of precision that is simply not achievable on the ground. This project is a prime example of how microgravity enables the production of entirely new biomedical products with the potential to serve multi-billion-dollar markets.
Regenerative medicine aims to repair or replace damaged tissues and organs, but creating complex biological structures is incredibly difficult. On Earth, 3D-bioprinted tissues often collapse under their own weight before they are mature enough to be self-supporting, requiring artificial scaffolds that can cause complications.
Redwire’s BioFabrication Facility (BFF) on the ISS has overcome this limitation. In orbit, the BFF has successfully printed complex human tissues, including a partial human meniscus (knee cartilage) and cardiac tissue, without the need for scaffolds. This breakthrough demonstrates that microgravity is an ideal environment for advanced bio-manufacturing, hinting at a future where transplantable tissues and perhaps even whole organs could be produced in space.
As discussed in Part 1, organoids—miniature, 3D organ models grown from stem cells—are a revolutionary tool for drug discovery. When grown in space, these models become even more powerful. Multiple research missions have sent patient-derived tumor organoids and other tissue chips to orbit to study diseases ranging from cancer to Parkinson's.
These experiments consistently show that space-grown organoids develop more complex and realistic structures that better mimic human physiology. This enhanced fidelity increases the predictive power of preclinical drug screening, helping scientists identify which drug candidates are most likely to succeed—and which are likely to fail—long before expensive human trials begin.
Modeling the ROI on a Space Experiment
The financial case for microgravity research is powerful, especially for lifecycle management of established drugs. The investment can pay for itself many times over.
Scenario: Reformulating a blockbuster drug that generates $8 billion in annual revenue from an IV infusion to a subcutaneous injection.
Result: A $5 million investment in space-based R&D could directly lead to protecting over $19 billion in revenue, delivering an extraordinary return and a powerful competitive advantage.
The business case for microgravity research is amplified by a dramatic shift in the space industry. What was once the exclusive and expensive domain of national space agencies is rapidly becoming an accessible commercial marketplace.
This convergence of proven results, compelling ROI, and improving access marks an inflection point. Microgravity is no longer just an interesting place to do science; it is a strategic platform for creating business value.
The evidence is clear: microgravity provides a unique environment to solve critical R&D challenges, and the pioneers are already reaping the rewards. For pharmaceutical and biotech leaders, the question is no longer if space research is valuable, but when to integrate it into your strategy.
SPARK Microgravity makes that step simple. We provide an end-to-end platform that handles all the complexities of space, enabling your scientific teams to focus on discovery. To explore how an orbital research program could drive value for your portfolio, book an ROI assessment with our team of experts.
In Part 3, we will provide a practical, step-by-step guide on how to design and execute your first space-enabled experiment.
SPARK Microgravity is a startup dedicated to democratizing space research and making it accessible for researchers across the globe. Headquartered in Munich with operations in the U.S. and Europe, SPARK Microgravity is building Europe’s first orbital cancer research laboratory to accelerate oncology breakthroughs in microgravity. By providing end-to-end microgravity research services – from experiment design and launch integration to data analysis, SPARK Microgravity enables pharmaceutical companies to leverage the space environment for R&D. Our mission is to advance scientific exploration in low Earth orbit and translate those discoveries into life-saving innovations back on Earth.
Why 2D and animal models fail and how microgravity bridges translation.
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SPARK is excited to collaborate and fuel the next wave of cancer research breakthroughs, from Earth’s orbit to clinics worldwide. Let’s launch the future of oncology, together.
