Eascra Biotech is leveraging the International Space Station (ISS) National Laboratory to advance the next generation of targeted cancer treatments through the development of Janus base nanomaterials (JBNs). JBNs are engineered from synthetic DNA-inspired molecules that self‑assemble into nanotubes that can be loaded with a therapeutic.
Previous research sponsored by the ISS National Lab demonstrated that JBNs manufactured in microgravity form more uniform and durable structures than those produced on Earth, resulting in improved therapeutic performance. Building on these findings, Eascra is now advancing two commercial cancer therapies: a JBN‑based chemotherapy and a JBN‑based immunotherapy.
Designed to target solid tumours precisely, JBNs enable direct drug delivery into some of the most difficult‑to‑treat cancers, including triple‑negative breast cancer, high‑grade ovarian cancer, and select bone cancers. By mimicking natural DNA, JBNs evade immune detection, allowing treatments to remain concentrated at tumour sites longer—potentially improving treatment effectiveness while reducing harmful side effects. JBNs are also stable at room temperature, so JBN-based therapeutics do not need to be refrigerated, making them much easier to ship and store.
“Microgravity research has given us a clearer path toward optimizing this technology for real‑world cancer treatment,” said Mari Anne Snow, CEO and co-founder of Eascra Biotech.
“These findings bring us closer to delivering more precise and effective therapies for patients with aggressive and drug‑resistant tumours.”
The mission will carry more than 10 ISS National Lab-sponsored investigations to the ISS. These projects span a wide range of scientific disciplines and could help improve heart disease modelling, enable real‑time environmental surveillance for land and water management, and advance understanding of microbial adaptation to extreme environments.