An Israeli company received a grant from the EU to develop drugs in microgravity conditions

Space Pharma, a company developing microgravity laboratories for space research, has received a grant of more than 2 million euros from the Horizon Europe program to produce anti-cancer drugs in space.

The European Innovation Council has committed to purchase €7.5 million worth of shares in the company, subject to Space Pharma raising the same amount from investors. If the conditions are successfully met, the total funding amount could reach 15 million euros.

Space Pharma plans to begin work on the production of two types of monoclonal antibodies. One of them is aimed at combating several types of tumors, and the other is specifically designed to treat skin cancer. In collaboration with a major pharmaceutical company, Space Pharma is launching these antibodies in its microgravity laboratories to crystallize them into three-dimensional structures that cannot be produced in Earth’s gravity. It is hoped that these crystals will allow the administration of smaller doses of medication that are slowly released into the bloodstream. This makes it possible to use subcutaneous injections instead of intravenous infusions, eliminating the need to visit the hospital.

The company has already conducted preliminary tests to produce a limited amount of crystalline antibodies in a laboratory located on the International Space Station (ISS). In the future, the drug will be tested on laboratory animals, assessed for toxicity to humans, after which clinical trials will begin.