Varda Space Industries is pioneering space-based pharmaceutical manufacturing by launching and returning drugs produced in microgravity, which enables the crystallization of complex pharmaceuticals that are difficult to produce on Earth.

Since its first mission in 2023, Varda has successfully conducted three space launches and returns, with a fourth mission currently in orbit and a fifth planned for later in 2025, advancing its capabilities in space manufacturing.

The company's orbital laboratories are leading commercial activities in low Earth orbit, focusing on developing processes for biologics like monoclonal antibodies, which had a market size of over $210 billion in 2022.

Varda's efforts include utilizing space to overcome Earth's gravity limitations, aiming to produce critical pharmaceutical components more efficiently and with higher purity.

In a recent funding round, Varda raised a total of $187 million, bringing its overall funding to $329 million, with investments from prominent firms such as Natural Capital, Shrug Capital, Peter Thiel, Lux Capital, and Khosla Ventures.

This capital will support increasing flight operations, expanding manufacturing capabilities, and building a new 10,000-square-foot laboratory in El Segundo, California, dedicated to biologics development.

Varda's CEO, Will Bruey, emphasized that the new funding will accelerate flight cadence and help develop a pharmaceutical lab for microgravity-enabled drug formulation, which is expected to revolutionize drug manufacturing.

The company aims to generate valuable intellectual property through its space-based processes, which can be patented and licensed to pharmaceutical companies.

Varda's orbital laboratories are pioneering commercial activities in low Earth orbit, marking a significant step forward in space manufacturing and pharmaceutical innovation.

Varda has transitioned from using Rocket Lab spacecraft to in-house spacecraft manufacturing, aiming to double production in the next year, with plans for additional missions in 2025.

Since its first mission in 2023, Varda has successfully completed three launches and is actively working on a fourth in orbit, with a fifth planned for later this year.

Varda's W-Series 1 capsule received FAA approval in 2024 to return from space after successfully growing crystals of the anti-HIV drug ritonavir in orbit and retrieving the original drug form.

Based in El Segundo, California, Varda announced a Series C funding round, raising $187 million, which increased its total funding to $329 million to enhance its robotic drug manufacturing technology.