BioOrbit secures £9.8m to make antibody therapies self‑injectable via microgravity crystallisation
This article covers BioOrbit, a biotech startup, which has raised £9.8m in a growth funding round co‑led by LocalGlobe and Breega to develop a platform that uses microgravity to manufacture biological drugs in orbit. The funding aims to support development of microgravity crystallisation technology to enable high‑concentration antibody formulations for subcutaneous, self‑injectable use, with implications for pharmaceutical manufacturers, patients and the UK biotech and space innovation ecosystem.
BioOrbit, a biotech startup, has raised £9.8 million in a growth funding round co‑led by LocalGlobe and Breega to develop a platform that uses microgravity to manufacture biological drugs in orbit — a technique the company says could enable injectable formulations of high‑concentration antibody therapies that are not possible on Earth.
Why it matters
Around 70 percent of the highest‑grossing drugs worldwide are administered intravenously in clinical settings. That reliance on hospital‑based infusion limits patient convenience and raises costs. BioOrbit’s approach aims to reformulate some of those treatments as subcutaneous, self‑injectable medicines by producing highly ordered crystalline forms of proteins in low‑Earth orbit. If the chemistry and supply chain challenges can be solved, the result could be fewer infusions in hospitals and more at‑home administration for conditions including certain cancer therapies.
The announcement is notable because it combines two growing themes in UK innovation: the use of space as a commercial laboratory and the push to develop manufacturing techniques that unlock new drug formats. BioOrbit says the funding will be used to move from research towards industrial deployment and contracted pharmaceutical programmes.
Inside the product
BioOrbit’s core technology is a proprietary microgravity crystallisation process it says produces highly ordered crystals of protein‑based drugs. The company argues these crystalline forms can reduce viscosity in high‑concentration antibody formulations, making them suitable for subcutaneous injection rather than intravenous infusion.
The process is delivered through BOX, described as a compact, modular and autonomous manufacturing unit for deployment in microgravity. The intention is to move beyond single experiments to repeatable, industrial‑scale production in low‑Earth orbit. To support that transition, BioOrbit has appointed Molly Mulligan as President of BioOrbit Inc. and Ken Savin as Chief Science Officer. The company also reports letters of interest from major pharmaceutical companies and is engaging with the NHS, the UK Space Agency, the MHRA, the Regulatory Innovation Office and the CAA on regulatory pathways for in‑space pharmaceutical manufacturing.
Who are the investors?
BioOrbit raised £9.8 million in a round co‑led by LocalGlobe and Breega, with participation from Auxxo, Seedcamp, Type One, 7 Percent and a group of angel investors.
In the announcement, Julia Hawkins, Partner at LocalGlobe, said:
BioOrbit turns space into pharmaceutical infrastructure. By using microgravity to create drug formulations that aren’t possible on Earth, they can shift cancer treatment from hospital to home. This is a fundamental rewrite of how medicines are manufactured and delivered. We’re proud to partner with Dr Katie King and Dr Leonor Teles as they build the future of medicine.
In the announcement, Matthieu Vallin, Partner at Breega, said:
We couldn't think of a better use of space than to advance cancer treatments. Katie and Leonor are building a world-class team to harness the unique properties up there that are irreproducible on Earth - we're excited to see them make this a reality.
LocalGlobe and Breega are established European investors that frequently back early‑stage technology and life sciences companies. Seedcamp and Auxxo add further early‑stage and sector experience, while Type One and 7 Percent bring additional specialist and angel support. The investor line‑up signals confidence in the commercial and regulatory potential of in‑space biomanufacturing, at a time when crossover funding between space and biotech is attracting attention.
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Founder perspective
In the announcement, Katie King, Co‑founder & CEO at BioOrbit, said:
This is a huge step-change in drug delivery and economics. Our focus from day one has been scale, moving beyond experimental results to industrial production, where no existing solution has succeeded. We are now enabling the creation of more perfect, highly ordered crystals that unlock drug formulations not achievable on Earth. It is a paradigm shift for cancer therapies and for the pharmaceutical industry at large, as we’re enabling manufacturing at scale in orbit for the first time.
The company’s leadership line‑up and new hires point to a dual focus on pharmaceutical development and the technical challenges of operating manufacturing hardware in space.
The bigger picture
BioOrbit’s funding and stated regulatory conversations illustrate how UK innovation efforts are expanding into novel manufacturing domains. The company is not just pitching new chemistry but a supply‑chain and regulatory model that involves space agencies, medicines regulators and healthcare providers. There are obvious practical hurdles: launch costs, payload reliability, quality control across terrestrial and orbital sites, and regulatory approvals for medicines manufactured off‑planet.
The deal also reflects growing interest from biotech investors in unconventional routes to drug formulation and production. If BioOrbit can demonstrate repeatable, compliant manufacturing in microgravity and secure commercial contracts with pharmaceutical companies, it would be an early example of space‑based infrastructure serving routine healthcare needs.
The wider implication for the UK and European ecosystems is twofold: it highlights the need for cross‑sector regulatory frameworks that cover space and healthcare, and it shows how investors are willing to back teams that combine life sciences expertise with space engineering.
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