Sources and credits
Zero-G Medicine Lab is an educational science-communication project. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, treatment recommendations, or investment guidance.
References to pembrolizumab explain a research example. The project is not affiliated with or endorsed by the medicine's manufacturer, NASA, the FDA, RCSB PDB, or any other organization cited here.
NASA - Agency research summary
https://www.nasa.gov/missions/station/iss-research/space-station-research-informs-new-fda-approved-cancer-therapy/Supports: Supports the careful wording that ISS protein-crystal research informed particle structure and size insights for a subcutaneous pembrolizumab formulation.
Do not overread: Does not show that the medicine was invented, manufactured, or clinically validated in space.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration - Regulatory approval notice
https://www.fda.gov/drugs/resources-information-approved-drugs/fda-approves-pembrolizumab-and-berahyaluronidase-alfa-pmph-subcutaneous-injectionSupports: Supports the September 19, 2025 approval date and the approved subcutaneous formulation name Keytruda Qlex.
Do not overread: Use for regulatory status, not as a source for the ISS crystallization mechanism.
ISS National Laboratory - Research feature
https://issnationallab.org/upward/reshaping-drug-delivery-millions-of-crystals-at-a-time/Supports: Supports sedimentation, convection, diffusion, and crystalline-suspension explanations.
Do not overread: Use conditionally: crystal-growth benefits depend on material, protocol, hardware, and ground-control comparison.
NASA - Agency science overview
https://www.nasa.gov/missions/station/iss-research/3d-bioprinting/Supports: Supports high-level statements about bioprinting living tissues and why microgravity can reduce the need for scaffolding in some work.
Do not overread: Avoid presenting organ replacement as clinically available.
RCSB Protein Data Bank - Structural biology database entry
https://www.rcsb.org/structure/5DK3https://doi.org/10.2210/pdb5DK3/pdbSupports: Supports the displayed 5DK3 molecular structure, X-ray diffraction method, and structure metadata.
Do not overread: This is not the exact ISS-grown crystal shown in the case study.
RCSB Protein Data Bank - 3D structure file
https://files.rcsb.org/download/5DK3.cifSupports: Provides the local model used by the interactive molecule viewer.
Do not overread: The model is educational and does not provide treatment guidance.