Seoul, South Korea โ – Korea’s โขburgeoning space pharmaceutical sector is accelerating following aโค recent successful launch of the Nuri space rocket, โbolstering efforts to develop novel treatments for chronic diseases in microgravity.Several Korean companies are actively pursuing research and development in this emerging field, collaborating with international partners and deploying experimental modules to the International Space Stationโฃ (ISS).
AstraZeneca has been exploring nanoparticle-based drugโ delivery and material development in microgravity, partnering with Redwire and utilizing โฃthe firm’s “Pill-Box” platform to advance drug development. Korean firm โSpaceLynkTech recently launched its BEE-1000 cubesat aboard the Nuri rocket toโค investigate the crystallization of pembrolizumab in orbit. in September, the company also deployed its independently developed BEE-PC1 research module to the ISS, completingโ an automated protein-crystallization โexperiment โlast month. The module is designed for โคtheโฃ growth of high-purity, highly uniform โcrystals in microgravity through a fully automated process.
Further collaboration isโ underway between โlaunch vehicle developer Innospace, โฃSpaceLynkTech, and Intergravity Technologies on space-basedโข drug development.โ Korean drugmaker Boryung is partnering with U.S.-based Axiom Space to explore new treatments for โcancer, aging-related diseases, and psychiatric disorders.
Experts anticipate a growing role for clinical pharmacists as the industry expands. A recent study published in the Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy byโ researchers at Gyeongsang National University highlighted unique risks โขto medicines in โฃspace – including cosmic โradiation, microgravity, and extreme temperature fluctuations – that could impact drug stabilityโ andโฃ efficacy. The researchers emphasized the need for drug safety evaluations tailored to space conditions, optimized dosing strategies, and specialized managementโ of drug interactions and side effects, distinguishing this work from traditional space โขmedicine.