Space BD signed the first contract for 13 space experiments of the high-quality protein crystal growth service with international 3 organizations

Tokyo — Space BD announces that it has signed contracts for a total of 13 spaceexperiments with two domestic and international companies and one research center for high-quality protein crystal growth experiments utilizing the International
Space Station (ISS) Japanese Experiment Module Kibo. Space BD has been appoi
nted as the sole partner by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) for its“Selection of Private business partner in the High-Quality Protein Crystal GrowthExperiment Service” in May 2021.

In this experiment, Space BD and the three users agreed to load samples for drug discovery research on new coronaviruses and agricultural drug discovery research.
Starting with this first contract with the three organizations, Space BD will leada wide range of activities to promote the utilization of the ISS. As a partner of JAX
A, Space BD will develop a new R&D business in the life science field by integrati
ng space utilization technology, which officially transformed from JAXA, and ground-based experimental technology.

[Contracted company]AgroDesign Studios / Kashiwa, Chiba
Business: Research and development of active pesticide ingredients (active ingredient compounds) for sustainable agriculture
Purpose: AgroDesign Studios is developing molecularly targeted pesticides that directly inhibit the function of essential proteins of pests and weeds as safe pestici
des. Protein shape data (three-dimensional structure) is necessary for this develo
pment. However, there are still few examples of analysis of the three-dimensional
structure of proteins derived from organisms important in agriculture. The compa
ny will participate in this experiment to obtain reliable structural data.

Website: https://www.agrodesign.co.jp/pages/2231653/page_201809022126

National Synchrotron Radiation Research Center (NSRRC) / Hsinchu, Taiwan

Business: NSRRC, the biggest large-scale shared research facility in Taiwan, curr
ently operates two accelerators, the Taiwan Light Source (TLS) and the Taiwan P
hoton Source (TPS). Annually, over 2,000 domestic and international users condu
ct their fundamental and applied research as well as high-tech innovation using N
SRRC’s experimental facilities.
Purpose: Dr. Chun-Jung Chen, Deputy Director of NSRRC, and his research teamparticipate in a space experiment to crystallize virus-like particles (VLPs), genera
ted from E. coli and assembled in vitro, and analyze the crystals by X-ray diffracti
on to elucidate the structure of the virus and the mechanism of assembly and infe
ction.
This research is expected to be helpful for the development of effective vaccinesand drugs against coronavirus and other new viruses.
This agreement is a collaborative effort with HelioX Cosmos, our channel partnerin Taiwan.
Website: https://www.nsrrc.org.tw/english/index.aspx
HelioX Cosmos(http://www.helioxcosmos.com/wordpress/)

Laboratório Nacional de Biociências(LNBio)/Centro Nacional de Pesquisa
em Energia e Materiais(CNPEM) / Sao Paulo, Brazil

Business: Research and development of biotechnology and drugs
Purpose: To crystalize a sample of N protein which is the cased virus of a new-corona virus (COVID-19), and to understand the three-dimensional structure of the complete protein for the first time in the world by X-ray diffraction.
This agreement is a collaborative effort with Airvantis, our channel partner in Bra
zil. CIMED, a Brazilian pharmaceutical company, will participate as a sponsor.

Website: LNBio(https://lnbio.cnpem.br/)
CIMED(https://cimedremedios.com.br/en/)
CNPEM(https://cnpem.br/)
Airvantis (https://airvantis.com/)About High-Quality Protein Crystal Growth Experiment Service on the ISS
Kibo

This service is one of JAXA’s ISS Kibo privatization initiatives. It grows high-qual
ity protein crystals that are difficult to achieve on the ground. The high-quality crystals can elucidate the precise three-dimensional structure of proteins. It is expec
ted to contribute to basic science and the industrial application of various life sciences such as drug discovery. As a partner, Space BD is undertaking the preparati
on work for the experiment and providing opportunities for the private sector to u
se this technology.

Figure 1 Protein crystals of amylase produced in the ISS (left) and on the ground (right) ©JAXA/Maruwa Foo
ds and Biosciences

Space BD will inherit the know-how from JAXA through the contracted operation
al preparation for the high-quality protein crystal growth while developing the global market by improving the convenience of users and the efficiency of the experi
ment system, including applying the new IT system. Moreover, Space BD has part
nered with MARUWA Foods and Biosciences Inc., which supports new drug devel
opment and protein structure research. This partnership makes it possible to offer a one-stop Research & Development Services for life sciences, covering space e
xperiments and ground analysis.
More information: https://space-bd.com/en/news/20210510.php

ContactSpace BD Inc.,
Business Development Life-science R&D project manager, Shun Yamaguchi
Mail : info@space-bd.com
Tel:+81 (0)3-6264-7177