Varda Space inks drug deal with United Therapeutics for orbital manufacturing
First commercial path to making drugs in microgravity, with a biotech giant on board.
Varda Space Industries, a startup founded in 2021 by Delian Asparouhov (Founders Fund partner) and former SpaceX engineer Will Bruey, has signed its first commercial pharmaceutical partner: United Therapeutics. The deal marks what Varda calls “the first commercial path to products made in space.” The company aims to fly United’s drugs to orbit, where microgravity causes molecules to crystallize into unique atomic arrangements. Those new forms could offer better stability or efficacy, helping the biotech firm extend patent life on its blockbuster pulmonary arterial hypertension treatments.
Varda relies on SpaceX’s frequent Falcon 9 launches to send small satellites with reentry capsules into orbit. After processing drugs in zero G, the capsules detach, reenter the atmosphere at Mach 25, and parachute to landing in the Australian outback. The same reentry capability has attracted US Air Force interest for hypersonic missile research—half of Varda’s six missions so far have been military. The company’s El Segundo facility includes a centrifuge that tests drugs under high gravity as a counterpoint to orbital conditions.
- Varda Space signed United Therapeutics to produce drug crystals in orbit, targeting improved molecular forms via microgravity.
- The company uses SpaceX Falcon 9 rockets; capsules reenter at Mach 25 and land via parachute in Australia.
- Half of Varda’s six missions have been for US military hypersonic research, blending defense and pharma uses.
Why It Matters
Space-based drug manufacturing could unlock novel therapeutics and longer patent protection, changing pharma R&D economics.