The UK government has unveiled a comprehensive framework to accelerate the manufacturing of pharmaceuticals in space.
On Thursday (5 March) the UK Space Agency, in collaboration with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), the Regulatory Innovation Office, and the Civil Aviation Authority, announced a ‘world-leading pathway’ for space-manufactured drugs.
The initiative promises regulatory clarity, a dedicated sandbox for testing re-entry processes, streamlined licensing for in-orbit operations, and joint guidance to bridge the gap from orbital production to patients on Earth.
The announcement ties directly into the government’s £2 billion Life Sciences Sector Plan, positioning the UK as a frontrunner in using microgravity, a condition impossible to fully replicate on Earth, to enhance the quality, stability, and effectiveness of complex biologic medicines.
At the heart of the spotlight is BioOrbit, a UK-based startup founded to harness space for pharmaceutical production. The company recently secured a £250,000 feasibility study grant from the UK Space Agency for its “PHARM” project.
This study designs an end-to-end mission to manufacture drugs in orbit, focusing on crystallising biologic proteins, particularly those used in antibody therapies for cancer.
Why space?
On Earth, gravity disrupts the formation of protein crystals, leading to imperfections that limit drug concentration, stability, and delivery methods. In microgravity, crystals grow more uniformly and purely, potentially enabling higher-potency formulations.
For cancer patients, this could mean shifting from hospital-based intravenous (IV) infusions to convenient at-home subcutaneous injections, reducing treatment burden, cutting costs, and improving access.
“BioOrbit is pioneering the future of medicine in space, unlocking advanced therapies that directly benefit UK patients and support the NHS,” said Dr. Katie King, CEO of BioOrbit.
The company, which has been developing the concept since at least 2023, aims to produce monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) as crystals that dissolve more effectively or allow slower release.
Earlier ambitions included targeting pre-clinical trials as soon as 2026 for space-grown protein crystals, with the goal of transforming how established cancer immunotherapies are delivered.
The government’s backing extends beyond BioOrbit and announcement highlights parallel efforts, such as demonstration missions by Space Forge and Astroscale UK, and frames in-orbit manufacturing as a priority for economic growth, national security, and health innovation.
“The UK is taking medical breakthroughs from orbit to patient – tackling the practical barriers that have held back commercial in-orbit manufacturing, from regulatory uncertainty to supply chain gaps,” said Space Minister Liz Lloyd.
The MHRA will offer early scientific advice and innovation accelerator engagement, while case studies will demonstrate how space-made drugs can meet the same rigorous standards as Earth-produced ones.
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