Orano Med Invests €250M in New Radiopharmaceutical Facility in France to Boost Cancer Therapy Production 💊
Orano Med is making a significant investment in France’s radiopharmaceutical sector with the construction of a €250 million Advanced Thorium Extraction Facility (ATEF) in Bessines-sur-Gartempe. This 7,000-square-meter site will produce thorium-228, a key precursor for lead-212-based radioligand therapies, which are used in targeted cancer treatments. 𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁: - Expected opening: 2027 - Capacity: Will increase lead-212 extraction tenfold, ensuring supply for clinical trials and commercial treatments - Production Goal: 100,000 radiopharmaceutical doses per year within the next decade - Job Creation: 70 direct jobs + 100 indirect employment opportunities - Government Support: €22 million funding from the France 2030 program This facility follows Orano Med’s recent expansion into the U.S., where it is building a radiopharma production plant in Brownsburg, Indiana (Alpha Therapy Laboratory - ATLab). Additionally, Orano Med has entered a €300 million radioligand partnership with Sanofi, which includes Sanofi taking a 16% equity stake in the venture. The ATEF plant in France will play a crucial role in overcoming supply challenges in radiopharmaceutical production, a key hurdle in the field. With increasing global interest in radioligand therapies, this investment strengthens France’s position as a leader in nuclear medicine.