Varda Space Raises $187M to Advance Drug Manufacturing in Orbit

Varda Space Industries is pioneering pharmaceutical manufacturing in microgravity by leveraging space-based crystallization to overcome Earth-bound limitations such as gravity, which impact drug purity and shelf-life. The company recently raised $187 million in a Series C funding round, bringing its total funding to over $320 million, with backing from investors including Natural Capital, Shrug Capital, Peter Thiel, Lux Capital, and Khosla Ventures. This capital will be used to build a 10,000-square-foot laboratory in El Segundo, California, where scientists will identify promising biologics like proteins and antibodies for space-based crystallization and optimize conditions for orbital manufacturing. Varda has successfully flown multiple missions, including their own spacecraft bus and reentry vehicle, demonstrating drug crystallization in orbit, notably with the antiretroviral drug ritonavir. The company aims to scale production capabilities, increase flight cadence, and generate valuable intellectual property through space-manufactured pharmaceuticals that could transform drug formulation and manufacturing. Additionally, Varda is collaborating with pharmaceutical companies and government agencies such as the U.S. Air Force and NASA to advance its technology and applications.