NASA has opened the International Space Station to scientists and researchers, and invites them to harness the benefits of microgravity for commercial and public research, technology demonstrations, and more. Today, a portion of the crew’s time on the station is devoted to private industry, including medical research that addresses complex health challenges on Earth and preparing astronauts for future deep space missions.
In collaboration with Merck scientists, protein crystal growth research on the space station yielded initial insights into the structure and size of particles best suited for the development of a new formulation of the company’s cancer drug pembrolizumab for subcutaneous injection. This new route of delivery was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in September and provides a time-saving alternative to intravenous infusion for some patients. These research efforts aboard the space station were supported by the ISS National Laboratory.
Originally, the treatment was given during office visits via infusion therapy into the patient’s veins, a process that could take up to two hours. Early delivery improvements reduced infusion time to less than 30 minutes every three weeks. The newly approved subcutaneous injection form takes about one minute every three weeks, promising to improve patients’ quality of life by reducing costs and significantly shortening treatment times for patients and healthcare providers.
Since 2014, Merck has sent crystal growth experiments to the space station to better understand how crystals form, including monoclonal antibodies used in the treatment of this cancer. Monoclonal antibodies are lab-made proteins that help the body fight diseases. This research focuses on producing crystalline suspensions that dissolve easily in liquid, making it possible to deliver the drug by injection. In microgravity, the absence of the physical forces of gravity allows scientists to grow larger, more uniform, and higher quality crystals than those grown in ground-based laboratories, thereby advancing drug development and structural modeling.
Research conducted on the space station has provided valuable insight into how gravity affects crystallization, helping to improve drug manufacturing. The work of NASA and its partners aboard the space station improves life on Earth, enhances the commercial economy in low Earth orbit, and prepares for human exploration of the Moon and Mars.
