BioOrbit

UK-based space-driven biotechnology startup BioOrbit has raised £9.8 million in a seed funding round co-led by LocalGlobe and Breega.

Summary of transaction details:

• Value: £9.8 million (Seed).
• Sector: DeepTech & AI / Space Tech / Biotechnology.
• Advisor: Not disclosed.
• Key Entities: Target: BioOrbit; Lead Investors: LocalGlobe, Breega; Participating Investors: Auxxo, Seedcamp, Type One, 7 percent, and angel investors; Key Executive: Dr. Katie King (Founder & CEO).
• Location: UK.

Note: Marking the world's largest seed round for in-space manufacturing, this £9.8 million investment will accelerate BioOrbit's mission to manufacture pharmaceutical drugs at scale in low-Earth orbit. Currently, 70% of the highest-grossing drugs globally are administered intravenously in clinical settings. By utilizing the microgravity environment of space, BioOrbit aims to crystallize protein-based biologic drugs (such as monoclonal antibodies) into highly ordered structures. This process reduces viscosity, enabling these drugs to be reformulated as subcutaneous, self-injectable treatments, thereby shifting critical care—like cancer treatments—from hospitals to patients' homes. The company will deploy "BOX," a compact, microwave-sized autonomous manufacturing unit, to move microgravity crystallization from one-off experiments to industrial-scale production.