Space LiinTech, a space medicine specialist, said on the 2nd that its independently developed space medicine research module "BEE-PC1" successfully completed an automated protein crystallization experiment conducted on the International Space Station (ISS). It is the first case in Korea to validate a core biopharmaceutical process in space.
Space LiinTech is a space-based biopharmaceutical corporations that conducts new drug development and therapeutic research using the space environment and a drop tower. The company provides research platforms based on altered gravity environments for protein crystallization and cell therapy experiments, and is leading the industrialization of space bio processes through ground–low Earth orbit (LEO) linked verification.
Through this experiment, Space LiinTech proved that high-purity, highly homogeneous protein crystals can be stably secured via an automated process without astronaut intervention in a microgravity environment. This means it has secured standardization and reproducibility of high-quality samples needed for structure-based drug design, and it can be seen as having laid the technological foundation that can be directly connected to commercialization models such as space CDMO (contract development and manufacturing).
BEE-PC1 carried out protein crystallization and monitoring processes for the first time in the world without astronaut assistance over the past month. The experimental samples, for which the demonstration has been completed, are scheduled to be retrieved to Earth in December this year by SpaceX's Dragon capsule, and the results will be released immediately after retrieval through structural analysis.
In addition, Space LiinTech plans to further advance its space pharmaceuticals business by embarking on the fourth rideshare satellite mission of the homegrown Nuri rocket scheduled for Nov. 27, pushing ahead with module scale-up, optimization of crystal growth parameters, and expansion of target portfolios such as anticancer and immune diseases.
Yoon Hak-sun, CEO of Space LiinTech, said, "Successfully completing a fully automated experiment by loading a space medicine research module onto the ISS for the first time in Korea means that Space LiinTech's proprietary technology has been verified in the actual space environment," and added, "This successful demonstration was possible thanks to continued support from the Korea AeroSpace Administration and the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and we will build technological and industrial capabilities in space pharmaceuticals through follow-up Nuri missions scheduled five times by next year."