Orbital pharma gains momentum as Varda teams with United Therapeutics to grow drugs in microgravity
Private space startup Varda Space Industries is expanding commercial drug production in orbit, partnering with United Therapeutics to use microgravity to improve drug crystallization and stability. The approach combines Earth‑based screening in a new 10,000‑sq‑ft lab with a plan to launch multiple autonomous satellites to test and manufacture therapies in space, aiming to shorten development times and create products valuable enough to justify reentry to Earth. This marks a notable milestone in the evolving orbital biotech economy as the cadence of launches increases and long‑term goals shift toward building a space‑based pharmaceutical business.