Orano Med Marks Major Milestone in Construction of Advanced Thorium Extraction Facility in France, Setting Stage for Large-Scale Production of Lead-212 Cancer Therapies
Orano Med, the radiopharmaceutical subsidiary of the Orano group specializing in targeted alpha therapies (TAT) for oncology, has announced a major milestone in the construction of its Advanced Thorium Extraction Facility (ATEF) in Bessines-sur-Gartempe, near Limoges, France. The project has now reached the “dry-in” phase, with sealing works completed and the building made watertight. This achievement represents a critical step forward since the groundbreaking ceremony held in November 2024.
The ATEF plant is one of Orano Med’s most ambitious projects, designed to secure industrial-scale production of thorium-228, a key precursor in the manufacture of lead-212. Lead-212 is an isotope with unique properties that make it especially valuable in the development of innovative targeted alpha therapies for cancer treatment. These therapies use the highly localized, powerful cytotoxicity of alpha particles to destroy cancer cells while sparing surrounding healthy tissues.
A Milestone Celebrated with Local and Regional Partners
To mark this important stage in construction, Orano Med organized a site visit that brought together numerous institutional, local, and regional partners who have been closely involved in supporting the project since its inception. The gathering underscored the collaborative effort that has gone into the creation of the ATEF facility.
Among the notable attendees were Andréa Brouille, mayor of Bessines-sur-Gartempe and first vice-president of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, and Alain Auzemery, president of the ELAN community of municipalities and vice-president of the Haute-Vienne departmental council. Other representatives included officials from the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Development and Innovation Agency (ADI NA), the Limoges and Haute-Vienne Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Limousin Union of Metallurgy Industries and Trades.
The event provided an opportunity for stakeholders to tour the site, witness the progress firsthand, and discuss the road ahead. Representatives from Orano Med and Orano Projets teams were also present, highlighting both the technical achievements already reached and the crucial steps that remain.
“Construction is progressing according to schedule,” noted Bruno Pagnard, project manager for ATEF. “We have the full commitment of our partners and all the companies and stakeholders involved to bring this exciting ATEF plant to fruition.”
Boosting Local Development and Economic Growth
The significance of the ATEF project extends well beyond Orano Med’s scientific ambitions. For the local community, the facility represents a major investment in jobs, innovation, and regional development.
Eric Pluche, director of Orano’s Bessines-sur-Gartempe site, emphasized how the facility is not only a milestone in nuclear medicine production but also a vital contributor to the region’s industrial renewal. “With the hiring of 70 new employees, Orano is demonstrating its commitment to investing in the region over the long term and helping to boost its attractiveness,” Pluche explained.
This wave of new skilled jobs will strengthen the local economy and help establish Bessines-sur-Gartempe as a hub for advanced nuclear and medical technologies. By anchoring the development of next-generation radiopharmaceuticals in the region, Orano Med is also creating opportunities for collaboration with regional research institutions, suppliers, and technology partners.
The Role of Lead-212 in Next-Generation Cancer Therapies
At the heart of the ATEF project lies Orano Med’s focus on targeted alpha therapy (TAT). This new class of treatment uses alpha-emitting isotopes to deliver highly potent radiation directly to cancer cells. Unlike conventional therapies, which may affect large areas of the body, TAT leverages the short path length of alpha particles to achieve precise and localized destruction of tumor cells.
Lead-212 has emerged as one of the most promising isotopes for TAT. However, its clinical development has historically been limited by the difficulty of securing reliable, large-scale supplies. Production is complex, requiring access to thorium-228, a rare precursor isotope.
The ATEF facility, with a floor area of nearly 7,000 square meters, has been designed to address this bottleneck. It will provide a production capacity that is ten times greater than that of Orano Med’s existing Maurice Tubiana laboratory. This dramatic increase will enable Orano Med to support both clinical trials and, eventually, the commercial launch of lead-212–based therapies.
Once operational, ATEF will be the world’s first industrial-scale facility dedicated to thorium-228 production. This capability positions Orano Med as a global leader in the supply chain for targeted alpha therapies.
A Strategic Industrial Investment
The construction of the ATEF facility is backed by an estimated total investment of €250 million, reflecting both the scale of the project and its strategic importance to the future of oncology treatment. Of this sum, €22 million comes from French government funding under the France 2030 program, specifically through the “Industrialization and Health Capacities 2030” call for projects.
The support demonstrates France’s recognition of nuclear medicine as a key driver of future healthcare innovation, as well as a field in which the country can build global leadership. By integrating this industrial base within France, Orano Med is also ensuring sovereignty in the production of critical isotopes for cancer care.
Next Steps in Construction and Commissioning
Now that the dry-in stage has been completed, construction will move into its next phase. The coming months will focus on completing civil engineering work before shifting toward the installation and qualification of highly specialized plant equipment. This includes systems for isotope extraction, purification, and handling under strict safety and regulatory standards.
The facility is scheduled to begin operations in 2027. Once active, it will form a cornerstone of Orano Med’s integrated industrial platform, designed to cover the entire value chain of targeted alpha therapies—from the production of precursors to the development and distribution of finished lead-212–based treatments.
“The ATEF plant is a key component in Orano Med’s fully integrated industrial platform,” said Fabrice Darvey, Director of Industrial Operations at Orano Med. “It will enable the large-scale production of these treatments to meet the needs of patients worldwide.”
Meeting the Needs of Patients on a Global Scale
The combination of ATEF and the Maurice Tubiana laboratory will provide Orano Med with unprecedented production capacity. In the near term, this expanded capacity will ensure sufficient supply for the clinical trials of its lead-212–based therapies. As the therapies advance through late-stage development and move toward regulatory approval, ATEF’s output will be essential in meeting the growing global demand.
Orano Med projects that within the next decade, its industrial platform will be capable of providing treatment for up to 25,000 patients per year. This level of impact underscores the transformative potential of targeted alpha therapies in addressing cancers that are difficult to treat with existing modalities.
A Vision for the Future of Cancer Treatment
By investing in ATEF, Orano Med is positioning itself at the forefront of a new wave in cancer care. Targeted alpha therapy is widely regarded as one of the most promising innovations in oncology, with the potential to complement or even replace existing therapeutic approaches in certain cancers.
The ability to produce lead-212 at scale is expected to unlock a new era of clinical research, enabling not only Orano Med but also partners and collaborators across the medical community to accelerate the development of treatments. With industrial production secured, researchers will no longer face the supply shortages that have historically hindered progress.
The ATEF facility thus represents more than an industrial project—it is a gateway to a future where patients with hard-to-treat cancers may have access to more effective, less invasive, and more targeted therapeutic options.
