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Pharmacological Countermeasures for Long-Duration Space Missions: Addressing Cardiovascular Challenges and Advancing Space-Adapted Healthcare
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  • Audrey Derobertmasure ,
  • Li Shean Toh,
  • Virginia Wotring,
  • Philipp Williams,
  • lucia morbidelli,
  • Julia Stingl,
  • mathieu Vinken,
  • Raghda Ramadan,
  • Stéphanie Chhun,
  • pierre Boutouyrie
Audrey Derobertmasure
Hopital Europeen Georges Pompidou
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Li Shean Toh
University of Nottingham
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Virginia Wotring
International Space University
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Philipp Williams
University of Nottingham
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lucia morbidelli
University of Siena
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Julia Stingl
RWTH Aachen University
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mathieu Vinken
Vrije Universiteit Brussel
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Raghda Ramadan
Belgian Nuclear Research Centre
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Stéphanie Chhun
Hôpital Universitaire Necker-Enfants Malades
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pierre Boutouyrie
Hopital Europeen Georges Pompidou

Corresponding Author:pierre.boutouyrie@aphp.fr

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Abstract

Future long-duration crewed space missions beyond Low Earth Orbit (LEO) will bring new healthcare challenges for astronauts for which pharmacological countermeasures (PCMs) are crucial. This paper highlights current PCMs challenges described in the ESA SciSpacE Roadmap, with a focus on the cardiovascular system as a model to demonstrate the potential implication of the challenges and recommendations. New pharmacological approaches and procedures need to be adapted to spaceflight (SF) conditions. Potential strategies include combining pharmacological biomarkers such as pharmacogenomics with therapeutic drug monitoring, advancing microsampling techniques, and implementing a pharmacovigilance system to gain deep insights into pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics (PK/PD) spaceflight alteration on drug exposure. Emerging therapeutic approaches (such as long-term regimens) or manufacturing drugs in the space environment, can address specific issues related to drug storage and stability. The integration of biobanks and innovative technologies like organoids and organ-on-a-chip, artificial intelligence (AI), including machine learning will further enhance PK modelling leading to personalized treatments. These innovative pharmaceutical tools will also enable reciprocal game-changing healthcare developments to be made on Earth as well as in space and are essential to ensure space explorers receive safe effective pharmaceutical care.