Pharmaceutical companies are increasingly interested in space to develop and improve drugs, and to extend their patents.

“We are on the verge of significant advancements,” stated Bill Nelson, NASA Administrator, in an interview with POLITICO. “They have a laboratory equipped with all necessary instruments and a dedicated crew.”

Nelson possesses a unique viewpoint. In 1986, as the chair of the House Space Subcommittee, he performed cancer experiments on the Space Shuttle, making him the first representative to venture beyond Earth’s atmosphere. He was representing Cape Canaveral, located on Florida’s space coast, at the time.

Fast-forward nearly 40 years. Today’s space station researchers include the
biotech startup MicroQuin and
Bristol Myers Squibb, as well as Merck, whose cancer immunotherapy drug Keytruda has emerged as a blueprint of where space-based cancer research is heading.

Merck’s research on the space station indicates that growing protein crystals in microgravity and then repeating the process on Earth could provide valuable insights for Keytruda’s subcutaneous formulation. While this formulation has not yet been tested on human subjects, it has the potential to significantly improve the process of receiving a Keytruda treatment. Rather than being confined to a hospital bed with an IV, patients could potentially receive a simple injection in a doctor’s office.

“It’s truly astounding when you witness the growth of the same protein crystal in two distinct environments – one in a state of gravity and the other in microgravity,” stated Nelson. “This has led to the current advancements in protein crystal growth for Keytruda, but it was a journey that spanned many years.”

Although it remains a theoretical concept, scientists are hopeful. Michael Roberts, the chief scientific officer of the International Space Station National Laboratory, stated that if Merck can enhance the safety and effectiveness of its primary cancer medication, it will result in saving more lives. This should also reduce costs and increase accessibility.

The proposal to increase NASA’s budget has not been fully accepted by Congress. In his fiscal 2024 budget, Biden suggested expanding public-private partnerships on the space station; however, both the Republican-led House and Democratic-led Senate aim to decrease NASA’s funding. Until Congress reaches a decision by February 2nd, the agency will continue to operate on the budget set for fiscal year 2023.

Over $400 million has been allocated for the development of commercial space stations.

In the end, Roberts stated that readiness is crucial: “The government has a significant responsibility in financing initial research, but eventually, the most impactful advancements for humanity come from the commercial industry.”

Studying cancer in a zero-gravity environment

Paul Reichert, a biochemist at Merck who spearheaded the Keytruda project on the space station, is optimistic about the potential for health research in space.

According to Reichert, producing drugs in space may not be feasible as we already face challenges on Earth. However, he believes that there is great potential for scientific advancements in research and development. He urges more scientists to conduct experiments in space and has advised other pharmaceutical companies on using microgravity as a valuable resource.

Utilizing microgravity in research and development offers advantages, as stated by the speaker. In low gravity, protein crystals remain suspended and their movement is slower, leading to a more precise formation compared to on Earth. This allows researchers to control the growth of crystals, resulting in larger and more consistent crystals with fewer imperfections.

Due to the scarcity of convection currents in outer space, liquids are heated evenly. According to Reichert, this allows for the production of high-quality chocolate bars or crystals, as chocolate only solidifies at a temperature of 45 degrees.

According to Reichert, medical scientists in various fields are utilizing microgravity to their advantage. He mentioned that the development of both small and large molecule drugs, as well as vaccines, have great potential in this environment. There is a significant focus on ensuring the stability and consistency of particles used in vaccines, making it a promising area of research.

One potential development is the ability to cultivate “seeds” in space, such as flawless crystals, and then bringing them back to Earth to create greater amounts of even more flawless materials. According to Reichert, this is a field that has not yet been explored.

Teamed up with the Department of Veterans Affairs to promote lung cancer screenings for veterans and the general public.

In 2005, Congress declared the space station a national laboratory, allowing for scientific research to be conducted with funding from external agencies and private groups.

The majority of the funding for the national laboratory comes from sources like the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation. The lab frequently partners with other organizations to work on initiatives such as tissue engineering and conducting tissue chip research in space.

NASA and the laboratory work closely together to coordinate and collaborate. They are jointly funding a future project in space to advance the goals of the cancer moonshot.

Despite the potential for collaboration with partners and a shift towards commercial labs in the future, NASA is not currently a major focus for Congress. While the Biden administration’s budget for 2024 allocates $27.2 billion to NASA, both the Senate and House have proposed reductions to this amount, with the House suggesting a budget of $25.4 billion and the Senate proposing $25 billion.

Nelson stated that there is a shortage of funds overall, and that is the issue we are currently struggling with.

When asked about the potential impact on cancer research, he stated that it may not necessarily lead to cuts. The budget for NASA does not have a designated amount for cancer research. Ultimately, the allocation of funding for scientific research will depend on available resources. However, there are no indications of cuts in the near future, especially in regards to cancer research.

After the year 2030, when the space station is scheduled to shut down, the transition to commercial laboratories is intended to create additional space for experiments at a potentially lower cost. This would aid in the entry of new participants into the field. It would also enable researchers like Reichert to further investigate their results, similar to how they do on Earth, and utilize their findings to explore new avenues.

Commercial labs are poised to make NASA one of many customers, rather than a laboratory co-operator — a cheaper proposition for the agency — but whether one or more of those labs will be ready to take over by the end of the decade is an open question.

The time frame for shutting down the space station has been extended by NASA previously, and there is still ongoing progress in transitioning resources and responsibilities. This process is somewhat dependent on commercial partners determining the feasibility of operating future space platforms.

Despite the decades-long history of space-based research, there have been very few chances to conduct experiments. According to Reichert, we are still in the early stages of exploring microgravity, but there is vast potential for future studies.