Scientists are transforming the mind-boggling ideas proposed by Interstellar and Project Hail Mary into reality by taking advantage of the effects that microgravity has on cellular and chemical compositions. Whether that is developing cancer antibodies or biomanufacturing stem cells that can differentiate as effectively as that of fetuses, this area of research has promising potential to be the next frontier of human biology. However, trying to grow organs and construct intricate compounds 400 kilometers above Earth does not come without significant costs and resources. In this article, we will explore the exciting opportunities that the growing space industry presents for medicine.

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC), powerful stem cells that were genetically modified from blood or skin cells, have been the center of attention for years since their discovery in 2006. They have the miraculous ability to differentiate into any human cell, much like the cells of a developing fetus. “We take a small sample of someone’s skin or blood, reprogram it into a stem cell, and from there, we can turn them into beating heart cells, stem cells, liver tissue—any cell type in the human body,” said Dr. Arun Sharma. A stem cell biologist and space enthusiast at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, Dr. Arun Sharma has spent more than a decade studying the plausibility of developing better iPSC in the advantageous conditions of space. 

The reason behind such a devotion to space biology is because of the fact that the gravity on Earth requires bioreactors to use circulating fluids to actively suspend structures grown from iPSCs, causing tears and unintentional fusing of the fragile cells. In orbit, there is no need for the use of any system to keep cells afloat. Research published on the effects of the International Space Station for iSPCs on heart-related utility in 2022 observed “increased cell proliferation and efficient generation of highly enriched cardiomyocytes [heart muscles] with appropriate features.”

These space-grown stem cells are able to form organoids (artificial organs that intend to mimic the functions of a human organ), which makes them especially useful for drug trials and other therapies. They may also have the potential to replace living tissue.

The success of Sharma’s study was evident; NASA approved $1.5 million in funding to replicate her ISS experiment on a mission later this year.

Microgravity has its advantages for drug creation as well. A monumental study in 2019 by pharmaceutical company Merck successfully proved that its cancer drug Keytruda (pembrolizumab) reaped significant benefits from the properties of microgravity. The drug, a monoclonal antibody that turns off pro-tumorigenic immune checkpoints, underwent changes in its antibody proteins, forming crystals that were smaller and more uniform than on Earth. This allowed Merck to potentially explore injection rather than an intravenous infusion, which takes much more time.

Taking inspiration from Merck, several other pharmaceutical companies followed suit. ExesaLibero Pharma, for example, announced their plan in 2025 to grow crystals of an experimental bone drug in space. BioOrbit took a different approach, launching payloads to the ISS to test autonomous crystallization of drugs in orbit.

LambdaVision explores a completely different aspect of biochemistry in space. The startup, launched out of the University of Connecticut, builds artificial retinas that contain proteins that mimic those of living retinas to capture light and restore sight for the blind. After conducting nine missions to the ISS, LambdaVision took advantage of the lack of sedimentation and convection in microgravity to build more uniform protein films with far less waste. CEO Nicole Wagner says that, on Earth, only about 40% of their films are functional, with much of the rest either too thick or too thin.

LambdaVision’s retina is made out of proteins meant to mimic that of human lenses. Their researchers have found great success in its development in microgravity. LambdaVision

However, as expected, launching functional laboratories into orbit comes with significant challenges and tolls. For instance, Cedars-Sinai’s new biomanufacturing facility that currently supports clinical trials and models on Earth claims that it would cost more than $2 million and take at least 8 months to build a personalized cell line from iPSCs and differentiate billions of cells to replace a patient’s insulin-producing cells to treat diabetes. Now imagine doing all of that on the ISS.

That is not to say that this venture would not be cost-effective in the future, and because of the life-saving potential that these products promise, it would likely not take long before the industry recognizes the value that it has not just for their businesses but also for the lives of future generations.

Citations and Further Reading

https://www.science.org/content/article/dreams-making-drugs-and-tissues-space-get-closer-reality

https://issnationallab.org/space-news/podcast-episode-four-arun-sharma-stem-cells/

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5951134/

https://www.cell.com/cell-reports-medicine/fulltext/S2666-3791(25)00121-1

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9561632/