Astropharmacy: in-Space Pharmaceutical Manufacturing for Deep Space Missions

During long-duration spaceflight beyond Low Earth Orbit (LEO), astronauts will be exposed to increased health risks that will require medical countermeasures. Biologics (e.g., peptide-based drugs) are particularly well-suited to treat many of the spaceflight-induced medical conditions. However, supplying these pharmaceuticals will be challenging due to reduced drug stability in space, limited shelf-life (6 months for biologics) even when refrigerated, and mass/volume constraints. To address this challenge, we are developing a platform for on-demand production of small doses of pharmaceuticals in deep space. This platform uses engineered Bacillus subtilis bacteria, which can be transported and stored in space as durable dried spores. When an astronaut gets sick, these spores will be activated inside a custom microfluidic hardware system to initiate production of the required drug. Seven small peptide drugs with relevant indications (e.g., bone loss and post-radiation exposure treatments) have been successfully expressed in B. subtilis to date. Several prototypes have been developed to translate laboratory culture and purification procedures into a hardware system to enable start-to-finish production in space, with minimal crew involvement. For each prototype, we are deriving the Figures of Merit (mass, power, volume, crew time), which are being compared to traditional laboratory protocols. The implementation of the “Astropharmacy” during long-duration missions beyond LEO will be discussed using a test scenario where an astronaut develops neutropenia (low white blood cells) following a solar particle event. Overall, the ability to produce small quantities of pharmaceuticals on-site, on-demand, with minimal power, mass and crew time requirements will address a major barrier to keeping astronauts healthy during long-duration spaceflight beyond LEO. On Earth, this platform could be beneficial in field situations with similar logistical constraints, such as in war zones, extended submarine deployments, or remote communities. This approach could enable personalized treatments in space and on Earth and make orphan drugs more affordable, while making the development of new drugs more rapid.