To boldly go back: Lilly charts 2nd space trip in 4 months, this time with chronic disease tests

Eli Lilly, like a child still giddy from their first roller coaster ride, is ready to go back into space. And so it will.

The pharmaceutical giant is teaming up with aerospace manufacturer Redwire for the second time in four months to try out drug discovery in space, this time with an emphasis on chronic diseases, the companies announced Tuesday. At the core of the venture is Redwire’s pharmaceutical manufacturing platform, PIL-BOX, designed for use beyond Earth. It allows pharmaceutical companies to “grow small-batch crystals of protein-based pharmaceuticals” in space, according to Redwire.