Former Merck and NASA Leaders Join SpaceMD as Demand Grows for In Space Pharmaceutical Development

Redwire Corporation has added two well known industry leaders, Paul Reichert and Niki Werkheiser, to strategic advisory roles at Space Microgravity Development LLC, its venture focused on advancing pharmaceutical and biotech innovation in microgravity. The appointments come as SpaceMD expands work with a growing roster of pharmaceutical customers seeking access to orbital research and manufacturing capabilities.

Strengthening Scientific and Commercial Strategy for Space Enabled Drug Development

Reichert, formerly a principal investigator at Merck Research Laboratories, will serve as Scientific Advisor. He will help shape SpaceMD’s scientific and commercial roadmap by identifying promising drug candidates and supporting development of an orbital research and manufacturing pipeline. His background in formulation and crystallization research includes early contributions to pembrolizumab, the active ingredient in Keytruda, which has become a widely used immunotherapy across multiple cancer indications.

Werkheiser, SpaceMD’s new Strategic Advisor, will work with the company and its biotech partners to develop new therapeutic concepts and expand opportunities to apply SpaceMD technologies to pharmaceutical research on the International Space Station and emerging commercial platforms. Her three decades of experience span space shuttle missions, ISS operations, lunar surface programs, and leadership of NASA’s technology maturation portfolio, where she oversaw more than one billion dollars in investments across government and industry.

Advisory Expertise Supporting SpaceMD’s Expanding Customer Base

SpaceMD CEO John Vellinger said the addition of Reichert and Werkheiser strengthens the company’s mission to unlock new pharmaceutical drugs through space based research. He noted that their combined expertise in drug development, biopharmaceutical research, and space technology will support SpaceMD’s momentum as demand increases for in space pharmaceutical capabilities.

Flight Proven PIL BOX Technology Accelerating Microgravity Research

SpaceMD uses the microgravity environment to grow seed crystals that can be licensed or sold to pharmaceutical companies for reformulation of existing drugs or development of new therapeutics. The company’s Pharmaceutical In Space Laboratory, known as PIL BOX, has become a core platform for this work. Since its first launch in November 2023, fifty four PIL BOX systems have flown to the ISS, successfully crystallizing forty five unique compounds including insulin and other molecules relevant to cancer, cardiovascular disease, obesity, and diabetes.

SpaceMD’s Role in the Emerging Space Enabled Biotech Sector

SpaceMD is a subsidiary of Redwire Corporation and leverages flight proven Redwire hardware to conduct microgravity research aimed at advancing pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and related fields. The company’s work reflects a broader trend in the aerospace sector, where commercial platforms are increasingly being used to support high value research and manufacturing applications.

Redwire’s Broader Aerospace and Defense Technology Portfolio

Redwire Corporation is an integrated space and defense technology company focused on advanced aerospace infrastructure, autonomous systems, and multi domain operations. Its teams across North America and Europe develop space and airborne platforms that support government and commercial customers pursuing next generation capabilities.