Redwire Corporation, a company in space infrastructure for the next-generation space economy, announced that its third batch of pharmaceutical drug crystals grown in space has successfully returned to Earth. The returned samples include crystals being studied by Eli Lilly and Company (Lilly) using Redwire’s PIL-BOX platform. Lilly researchers are using this experiment to potentially accelerate the discovery of novel medicines to treat chronic diseases.
Redwire and Lilly launched a research investigation in November 2023 that successfully demonstrated that insulin crystals grown in microgravity are larger and more ordered than those grown on Earth. Building upon this success, Lilly researchers will use the findings from this second investigation to expand their understanding of crystal formation and how they can impact drug discovery and development.
“Redwire has continued to build momentum with our pharmaceutical research capabilities as we identify critical new targets for breakthrough research and increase the throughput of drug manufacturing experiments in space using PIL-BOX,” said John Vellinger, President of In-Space Industries at Redwire. “We are grateful for our strong partnership with Eli Lilly and Company and other researchers, as well as the support from the ISS U.S. National Lab and NASA. This latest success solidifies Redwire’s ability to provide pharmaceutical researchers with a reliable platform to manufacture a variety of crystals in space and bring them back to Earth in a repeatable, scalable manner.”
Another investigation that returned to Earth successfully crystallized the same insulin experiments flown as part of a previous investigation to demonstrate consistent, repeatable results. The PIL-BOX system used in these investigations includes an integrated microscope for in-situ analysis of the crystallization process in microgravity. This analytical tool provides researchers with insight and data that can be used in drug discovery, developing new drugs, and improving existing products.
The return of these newest crystals marks the latest in a growing series of investigations leveraging PIL-BOX. Redwire has successfully processed 16 PIL-BOX units to date. Redwire recently launched 12 more PIL-BOX units onboard the SpaceX-31 cargo resupply mission to the ISS with new partners Bristol Myers Squibb and ExesaLibero Pharma, along with a second spaceflight investigation with Butler University. Previous PIL-BOX investigations have focused on various crystal molecules for treatments of cardiovascular disease, obesity, and diabetes.
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