Rebecsinib, a promising cancer therapeutic that targets the ADAR1 gene involved in cancer cloning and immune evasion, has achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first space-tested drug to receive FDA approval for clinical trials under active Investigational New Drug (IND) status. The drug was successfully evaluated during Axiom Missions 2 and 3 aboard the International Space Station, where it demonstrated superior efficacy in arresting cancer tumor organoid growth.
Breakthrough Results in Microgravity Testing
Previous missions revealed that Rebecsinib not only arrested the growth of cancer tumor organoids but also outperformed Fedratinib, an already FDA-approved drug, in comparative testing. The research, conducted through the Integrated Space Stem Cell Orbital Research (ISSCOR) collaboration between the Sanford Stem Cell Institute, JM Foundation, and Axiom Space, has shown particularly promising results in colorectal cancer treatment.
Dr. Catriona Jamieson, Director of the UC San Diego Sanford Stem Cell Institute and leader of the research team at Aspera Biomedicine, noted the accelerated nature of tumor growth in microgravity: "In terms of tumor growth, we see a doubling in growth of these little mini-tumors in just 10 days," effectively mimicking aggressive cancer progression in patients.
Upcoming Mission Expands Research Scope
The upcoming Axiom Mission 4, scheduled for launch on June 10, will expand the research to test Rebecsinib's effectiveness against triple-negative breast cancer cells in space. This mission represents a critical next step in understanding how cancer cells respond to treatment in microgravity, where cancer cells tend to grow rapidly and exhibit altered drug responses.
"Rebecsinib will enable the ADAR1 splicing inhibitor to fly to orbit with the Ax-4 crew under active IND status," Dr. Jamieson remarked. "We anticipate that this monumental mission will inform the expanded development of the first ADAR1 inhibitory cancer stem cell targeting drug for a broad array of cancers."
Accelerated Drug Development Model
The collaboration between Axiom Space and the Sanford Stem Cell Institute, which began in 2022, represents a pioneering model for accelerating drug development through space-based research. Microgravity provides an environment where better drug candidates may be selected for improved odds of working in patients, especially for those with faster disease progressions.
The research aims to harness microgravity to better understand cancer, stem cells, and aging, ultimately paving the way for more accurate disease prediction and improved therapies on Earth. With cancer accounting for nearly one in six deaths globally according to the World Health Organization, this innovative approach to drug testing could significantly impact treatment development timelines.
Commercial Space-Pharmaceutical Partnership
Tejpaul Bhatia, CEO of Axiom Space, emphasized the significance of this public-private collaboration: "We're proud to work with Aspera Biomedicines and the UC San Diego Sanford Stem Cell Institute, as together we have achieved a historic milestone, and we're even more excited for what's to come. This is how we crack the code of the space economy – uniting public and private partners to turn microgravity into a launchpad for breakthroughs."
The ultimate goal of this research is to enhance cancer disease modeling and drug testing in microgravity, leading to improved prediction, prevention, and treatment of cancer patients on Earth. The findings from these space-based studies are expected to provide reliable scientific results that will facilitate quicker clinical transitions of experimental drugs from laboratory to patient care.
