Redwire Expands In-Space Drug Development Program, Launches New PIL-BOX Technology and Cancer-Detection Experiment

By: Redwire Corporation via Business Wire

April 21, 2025 at 07:00 AM EDT

Creating symmetrical, same-size gold nanospheres in microgravity that could accelerate speed and accuracy of blood tests for cancer, other diseases

Redwire Corporation (NYSE: RDW), a leader in space infrastructure for the next-generation space economy, announced today that it has launched a new drug development technology and a cancer-detection experiment to the International Space Station (ISS) as the company scales its in-space pharmaceutical drug development program based on the success of its PIL-BOX platform.

To complement the existing PIL-BOX platform, Redwire is launching a high-volume Industrial Crystallizer that is capable of processing samples that are up to 200x the volume of what could previously be processed in the original PIL-BOX technology. The goal is to translate the insights gained from the PIL-BOX investigations into large-scale production for commercial applications. This Industrial Crystallizer technology could provide a roadmap to commercializing the fabrication of materials on the ISS for real world applications on the ground.

To validate this new hardware, Redwire is launching a first-of-its-kind experiment called Golden Balls, which will attempt to produce gold nanospheres in space for the first time ever. Gold nanoparticles are currently being explored by researchers as a cancer therapeutic due to their unique properties and they have been used as a biomedical testing tool for early detection of cancer and other diseases.

“Gold nanospheres could lead to early testing and diagnosis of cancer and other diseases, targeted drug delivery, and enhanced radiation and photothermal therapy, offering a promising approach to cancer management,” said John Vellinger, Redwire’s President of In-Space Industries. “Producing golden nanospheres in space is expected to yield both tighter size distributions and larger gold nanospheres without compromising surface structure and ultimately producing spheres of higher quality.”

The Industrial Crystallizer and Golden Balls experiment launched on board SpaceX’s 32nd commercial resupply mission to the International Space Station (ISS) on April 21st.

About Redwire

Redwire Corporation (NYSE: RDW) is a global space infrastructure and innovation company enabling civil, commercial, and national security programs. Redwire’s proven and reliable capabilities include avionics, sensors, power solutions, critical structures, mechanisms, radio frequency systems, platforms, missions, and microgravity payloads. Redwire combines decades of flight heritage and proven experience with an agile and innovative culture. Redwire’s approximately 750 employees working from 17 facilities located throughout the United States and Europe are committed to building a bold future in space for humanity, pushing the envelope of discovery and science while creating a better world on Earth. For more information, please visit redwirespace.com.