Varda says drugs made in orbit crystallize differently, and the phenomenon is especially helpful for medications that are difficult to manufacture on earth|@VardaSpace|X
Varda, a startup that makes drugs in space, just closed a $187 million Series C funding round led by Natural Capital and Shrug Capital, with support from Peter Thiel, Lux Capital, and others.
It brings the company’s funds to $329 million as it moves forward in ramping up production of space-made medicines.
According to Varda, drugs made in orbit crystallize differently, and the phenomenon is especially helpful for medications that are difficult to manufacture on earth.
It successfully created a version of the HIV drug ritonavir in space in 2023 and also received FAA approval to return its W-Series 1 capsule last year.
So far, it has completed three launches, has a fourth in orbit, and plans a fifth by the end of 2025.
With new funding, Varda will boost flight cadence and expand its biologics lab to identify more drug candidates suited for space production.
The company makes all components in-house and is expanding labs in Alabama and California.
Varda is the first company to process materials outside the ISS, helping lay the groundwork for an orbital pharmaceutical economy.