The drug, which was developed in Israel by the Aina Pharma company together with a remotely controlled laboratory of the Israeli Space Pharma, was integrated into a regular supply spaceship of SpaceX. Will be tested in zero gravity conditions in space
Last week, a unique Israeli experiment was launched as part of a SpaceX delivery mission to the International Space Station. A Falcon 9 launcher also carried a smart laboratory of the Israeli company Space Pharma which, among other things, will carry out treatment against cancer cells with the drug Doxil, developed by the Jerusalem-based Aina Pharma company. Doxil, which is used to treat cancer, is the first nanotechnological drug to receive FDA approval. The purpose of the experiment is to check for the first time whether there has been a change in the drug itself or in its action against cancer cells under the conditions of zero gravity in space.
Hedoxyl is a liposomal drug with a complex structure, which was developed for the treatment of ovarian cancer, multiple myeloma (cancer of the bone marrow) and other indications. The complex structure of the drug makes it possible to test whether conditions of zero gravity, as exist in space, affect the physical properties of the drug and its activity against cancer cells. Since the physical and chemical properties of the drug and the cancer cell may change under conditions of zero gravity, the researchers will ask to check whether the absorption of the nanoparticles into the cancer cells will change, whether the active substance against the cancer cells and its release rate will change, whether the properties of the unique shell of the drug will change, and more.
These aspects, as changes occur in them, may indicate a future possibility to improve the effectiveness of cancer treatment in zero gravity conditions.
The development of the drug Doxil was led by Prof' Yehezkel Bernholtz from the Hebrew University, who founded the company Aina Pharma in 2012 in Jerusalem and is recognized as a global expert in the development of nanotechnological drugs and the inventor of the first nanotechnological drug in the world approved by the FDA.
The SpaceX launcher carried with it into space a highly sophisticated laboratory weighing only about four kilograms, which enables remote control. The laboratory is also a development of an Israeli company - Space Pharma, which developed a miniaturization technology of the tests, with the help of which it will be possible to perform some of the tests in real time in space.
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charming! I really enjoy reading your articles.
Before they use it on Earth,
After that think about sending it into space,
A magical world…
Hope the space is less 😉