Redwire Pioneering Biopharma Production in Space by Successfully Bioprinting Live Human Heart Tissue and Delivering Second Batch of PIL-BOX Pharmaceutical Crystal Experiments
May 08 2024 - 7:30AM
Business Wire
Redwire Corporation (NYSE: RDW), a leader in space
infrastructure for the next generation space economy, announced
today that it has successfully 3D bioprinted the first live human
heart tissue sample though its 3D BioFabrication Facility (BFF)
onboard the International Space Station (ISS). The tissue sample
returned to Earth along with the second batch of pharmaceutical
crystal experiments from Redwire’s PIL-BOX platform.
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Live human heart tissue bioprinted with
Redwire's BioFabrication Facility onboard the International Space
Station. The tissue successfully returned to Earth in April 2024.
Image: Redwire
Redwire’s space biotech capabilities are creating valuable
opportunities for the biopharma industry as microgravity allows for
outcomes that aren’t possible on Earth, including bioprinting
materials that form and hold a three-dimensional shape without the
use of scaffolds or additional chemical support. It is also
possible to grow larger and more-highly-ordered pharmaceutical
crystals in microgravity. Understanding crystal growth and design
can inform the entire drug discovery, development, and design
process for small molecule and large biomolecule pharmaceuticals as
companies look to deliver new, optimized treatments to help
patients.
“These are extraordinary scientific achievements that bring us
closer to reliable, large-scale commercial biotech services
on-orbit,” said Redwire In-Space Industries President John
Vellinger. “With BFF and PIL-BOX, Redwire has leveraged decades of
spaceflight heritage to position itself as a market leader for
space biotech capabilities and is now setting the pace for on-orbit
contract development and production.”
Live human heart tissue bioprinted on Redwire’s BFF could
eventually be used to create heart patches as a treatment for
damaged heart tissue and opens the door to more effective,
personalized medicine. The tissue sample is now undergoing further
testing at Redwire’s facility in Greenville, Indiana. On the next
BFF mission, Redwire plans to 3D bioprint human blood vessels in
space.
Redwire’s second batch of returned PIL-BOX experiments comprised
of 36 crystal experiments, which included various crystal molecules
designed for pharmaceutical use, with antiviral, antifungal, and
antiseizure applications. These returned crystal experiments were
led by Redwire and Butler University.
Redwire recently partnered with Eli Lilly and Co. for a second
spaceflight investigation, which launched in March 2024. The Lilly
crystal experiments are expected to return to Earth in a Dragon
capsule onboard the Crew-8 mission which is currently targeting
August 2024. There are 16 upcoming investigations planned for
PIL-BOX, with samples launching to the ISS and returning to Earth
on every upcoming commercial resupply mission.
The PIL-02 and PIL-03 investigations have validated Redwire’s
ability to consistently provide pharmaceutical researchers with a
reliable platform to manufacture a variety of crystals in space and
bring them down quickly in a repeatable and scalable process.
BFF and PIL-BOX are part of Redwire’s expansive array of space
biotech and microgravity development platforms that make use of the
space environment to improve life on Earth. Redwire has developed
20 research facilities for crewed spacecraft, with 10 currently
aboard the ISS supporting world-leading research and manufacturing
missions.
About Redwire
Redwire Corporation (NYSE:RDW) is a global space infrastructure
and innovation company enabling civil, commercial, and national
security programs. Redwire’s proven and reliable capabilities
include avionics, sensors, power solutions, critical structures,
mechanisms, radio frequency systems, platforms, missions, and
microgravity payloads. Redwire combines decades of flight heritage
and proven experience with an agile and innovative culture.
Redwire’s approximately 700 employees, working from 14 facilities
located throughout the United States and Europe, are committed to
building a bold future in space for humanity, pushing the envelope
of discovery and science while creating a better world on Earth.
For more information, please visit redwirespace.com.
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