BioOrbit, founded in 2023, recently announced a significant funding round, raising £9.8 million (equivalent to €11.4 million) in seed capital. This substantial investment was co-led by LocalGlobe and BREEGA, with additional participation from Auxxo, Seedcamp, Type One Ventures, 7percent Ventures, and several angel investors. The London-based company plans to utilize these funds to scale up its drug manufacturing capabilities in space, specifically focusing on producing crystallized cancer drugs, and to expand its market presence in the US.
The core mission of BioOrbit is to leverage the microgravity environment of space to reformulate existing anti-cancer antibody treatments. By producing highly ordered protein crystals in orbit, BioOrbit aims to convert intravenous medications into subcutaneous versions that patients can self-administer at home, thereby reducing the need for clinical visits and potentially cutting drug-related hospital expenses by as much as 90%. The company has developed a microwave-sized autonomous manufacturing unit called BOX for this purpose, with its first demonstrator, Box-E, already deployed on a SpaceX flight to the International Space Station.
While CEO Katie King anticipates that the regulatory process will take around five years before clinical trials can begin, BioOrbit is actively pursuing multiple revenue streams to generate income in the interim. This includes building terrestrial drug manufacturing capabilities and seeking co-development contracts with large pharmaceutical firms. To facilitate its US expansion, BioOrbit has appointed Dr. Molly Mulligan as President and Dr. Ken Savin as Chief Science Officer, both veterans from Redwire with significant experience in space-related pharmaceuticals and drug development, respectively.
