The UK Space Agency has awarded funding to the biotechnology startup LinkGevity to test its anti-aging therapeutic in a space environment. The project, a collaboration with Lithuanian pharmaceutical specialist Delta Biosciences, will explore how microgravity can accelerate research into treatments for age-related diseases on Earth.
The grant, provided through the agency's International Bilateral Fund, supports preparatory work to determine if the company's treatment, which targets uncontrolled cell death, can be effectively studied and validated in space.
Key Takeaways
- The UK Space Agency has funded LinkGevity to prepare its anti-aging therapeutic for research in space.
- The project is a UK-Lithuania partnership with pharmaceutical stability firm Delta Biosciences.
- Space conditions like microgravity and radiation accelerate biological decline, offering a unique environment for rapid testing.
- The therapeutic aims to block necrosis, or uncontrolled cell death, which is a key factor in aging and many degenerative diseases.
- The research could lead to new treatments for age-related conditions on Earth and improve astronaut health during long-duration missions.
A Strategic Partnership for Advanced Medical Research
The initiative builds on an established relationship between LinkGevity and Delta Biosciences. In 2024, the two companies were the only non-U.S. organizations to participate in NASA's Space Health Program. This new project strengthens their collaboration, which was recently formalized with a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed at the Life Sciences Baltics conference.
Supported by both the UK Space Agency and the Lithuanian Health Ministry, this venture represents a significant pan-European effort in the field of space-enabled biotechnology. The collaboration aims to leverage the unique conditions of space to address complex medical challenges that affect populations on Earth.
Using Space as a Laboratory
Space provides an environment where the aging process appears to speed up. Astronauts experience accelerated biological changes due to factors like microgravity, increased cosmic radiation, and psychological stress. These conditions mimic the cellular decline seen in natural aging and degenerative diseases on Earth.
By studying their therapeutic in this environment, researchers hope to gain insights much faster than they could in a traditional laboratory setting. The goal is to develop the first-ever treatment designed specifically to block necrosis, the process of uncontrolled cell death that is central to many age-related ailments.
"Space offers an unparalleled testbed, where microgravity, cosmic radiation, and stress accelerate the same biological decline we see on Earth," said Dr. Carina Kern, co-founder and CEO of LinkGevity. "By harnessing these conditions, we can fast-track the development of the world’s first therapeutic that is designed to block necrosis."
Targeting the Root Cause of Cellular Decline
The core of LinkGevity's research is focused on necrosis. Unlike apoptosis, which is a form of programmed and controlled cell death, necrosis is chaotic and damaging, contributing to inflammation and tissue degeneration. It is implicated in a wide range of conditions, from neurodegenerative diseases to cardiovascular problems.
The company's anti-necrotic therapeutic is designed to intervene directly at the source of this decline. If successful, it could represent a shift from managing symptoms to actively modifying the course of a disease. This approach holds promise for conditions where current treatments are limited or ineffective.
What is Necrosis?
Necrosis is a form of cell injury that results in the premature death of cells in living tissue by autolysis. It is caused by factors external to the cell or tissue, such as infection, toxins, or trauma. This process triggers an inflammatory response, which can cause further damage to surrounding tissues, unlike the more orderly process of apoptosis (programmed cell death).
"Necrosis has long been an unsolved challenge in medicine," Dr. Kern added. "Astronauts face accelerated degeneration and ageing-linked conditions and our therapeutic offers the first real chance to intervene in degeneration at its root. This award lets us prove readiness for space and transform treatment of age-related disease."
Broader Implications for Health on Earth and in Space
While the immediate goal is to prepare the therapeutic for space-based trials, the long-term vision has significant implications for global health. A successful treatment could revolutionize how medicine approaches aging and a host of debilitating diseases on Earth.
For space exploration, the research is equally critical. Protecting astronauts from the accelerated aging effects of long-duration missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond is a major priority for space agencies worldwide. A therapy that builds resilience at the cellular level could be essential for the future of human spaceflight.
International Collaboration in Space Health
This project also includes plans for a UK-hosted International Symposium on Space Health and Biotech. This event will bring together leading space agencies, including NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA), and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), to discuss how space-based research can drive healthcare innovation and improve patient outcomes globally.
Serena Kern-Libera, Chief Operating Officer at LinkGevity, emphasized the dual benefit of the research. "This project is aimed to build resilience in astronauts and patients alike. By blocking necrosis, we target the key driver of decline. This first-in-class therapy highlights UK leadership in biotech with global reach."
The partnership underscores the growing importance of international cooperation in science. Dominykas Milasius, CEO of Delta Biosciences, stated, "Space creates biology’s toughest test. With LinkGevity we are advancing astronaut health and reshaping healthcare on Earth through international collaboration, driving innovations that extend human resilience on our planet and beyond."