Page 22 - International Space Station Benefits for Humanity, 3rd edition.

will perform and more precisely model the structure In 2017, TAS-205 completed a 24-week Phase II trial
of key proteins involved in disease. with 33 human DMD patients.
As mentioned in their partner perspective below, Merck Research Laboratories is conducting PCG
commercial experiments in support of pharmaceutical research onboard the ISS to develop a subcutaneous
research are a major focus of the Japan Aerospace (SC) formulation of the immunotherapy drug, Keytruda,
Exploration Agency (JAXA) ISS activities. The ISS U.S. which is currently administered via an intravenous
National Laboratory also hosts a significant number of (IV) injection. SC reformulations of similar drugs, such
PCG experiments. Many pharmaceutical companies, as Herceptin, provided a 44% savings in time and a
including Eli Lilly, Merck, Taiho Pharmaceutical, and 77% savings in medical staff effort over IV delivery.
PeptiDream, have conducted PCG investigations In addition, over 90% of patients preferred the SC
on the space station. These activities provide many formulation due to reduced pain, discomfort and side
examples of potential humankind benefits, which effects. Also, if the SC reformulation is more stable at
would have high economic value as well. room temperature, it will reduce costs associated with
storage and transportation.
One such investigation, JAXA PCG, crystallized
a protein of interest to researchers focused on Forbes analysts state that Merck’s first quarter growth
Duchenne’s muscular dystrophy (DMD). DMD is a in 2018 can be attributed primarily to growth in the
severe condition that causes progressive muscular oncology segment, notably through Keytruda’s year-
degeneration, often leaving the affected patients unable over-year growth to $1.46 billion. Through advances
to walk by early adolescence. In 2002, a research in delivery mechanisms such as SC reformulations,
investigation revealed a specific protein (H-PGDS) Merck may be able to further capitalize on Keytruda’s
that was expressed in necrotic muscle fibers in DMD potential sales.
patients. This discovery fueled the development of The PCG line of research with its potential new
specific inhibitors of H-PGDS as potential therapeutic therapeutic drugs, as well as the nanochannel-based
agents, and motivated researchers to grow delivery mechanisms that can reduce or eliminate visits
macroscopic protein-inhibitor complexes to map to the doctor’s office and increase the percentage of
the structures at the highest resolutions. The analysis patients who take the proper dosage on time, illustrates
of the structure of H-PGDS and inhibitor complex how investigations aboard the ISS can lead, over time,
grown as part of the JAXA PCG investigation on the to emerging applications on Earth with significant
ISS led to an improved complex structure (TAS-205), potential humankind benefits and economic value.
which is considerably more effective inhibitor than those
under investigation at that time. Subsequent tests However, rapid and repeat access to test multiple
showed that TAS-205 did reduce or slow the expansion crystallization conditions is an important factor that
of muscle necrosis in mice and dogs. In 2015, the underlies the success or failure of specific efforts
multinational Taiho Pharmaceutical Corporation verified on specific proteins. Not all PCG efforts will result
that the TAS-205 inhibitor is safe for use in humans. in improved crystals or structures in spaceflight.
However, each protein that is successful, as will be
illustrated in the next section on maturing and concrete
benefits, has the potential for significant economic
impact if it can be developed into a new approach
...PCG on the space station holds for treating disease.
the promise of reducing overall Earth Observation Data
research costs for pharmaceutical Data sets generated by the many Earth observing
companies, thereby allowing them instruments hosted on ISS external platforms are
to more accurately predict how another source of new data being exploited for
economic benefit. For example, using ISS-generated
candidate drugs will perform and Earth observation data, Dr. Ruhul Amin of the U.S.
more precisely model the structure Naval Research Laboratory refined remote detection
algorithms to identify harmful algal blooms. A spin-
of key proteins involved in disease. off company, BioOptoSense LLC, has been formed
to market this detection capability. The University of
Mississippi, City College of New York, and the Naval

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