Orano Med, the oncology-focused subsidiary of the Orano group, has announced a significant milestone in the construction of its Advanced Thorium Extraction Facility (ATEF) in Bessines-sur-Gartempe, near Limoges, France. The project has reached the watertight or “dry-in” phase, meaning sealing works are complete and civil engineering is advancing according to schedule. This achievement brings the ambitious project closer to its planned start-up in 2027 and reinforces Orano Med’s position as a pioneer in targeted alpha therapies for cancer.
A Landmark Celebration
The completion of this phase was marked with a site visit that brought together institutional partners, local authorities, and economic stakeholders who have supported the project since its launch in November 2024. Attendees included 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.
Also present were representatives 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. Together with Orano Med and Orano Projets teams, they reviewed the progress and discussed the next stages of construction.
“Construction is progressing according to schedule. We have the full commitment of our partners and all the companies and stakeholders involved to bring this exciting ATEF plant to fruition,” said Bruno Pagnard, ATEF project manager.
Driving Regional Growth
For the town of Bessines-sur-Gartempe and the broader Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, the ATEF facility represents more than just a scientific breakthrough. It is a driver of economic growth and innovation.
Eric Pluche, director of Orano’s Bessines-sur-Gartempe site, emphasized the long-term benefits of the project: “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.”
The addition of new skilled jobs and the establishment of a cutting-edge industrial site underline Orano’s role in revitalizing the local economy while reinforcing France’s leadership in medical innovation.
A First-of-Its-Kind Facility
ATEF will be the world’s first industrial-scale facility dedicated to the production of thorium-228, the precursor required to produce lead-212. Lead-212 is a rare isotope with unique properties that make it especially promising for Targeted Alpha Therapy (TAT), a next-generation cancer treatment.
Despite its therapeutic potential, the clinical development of lead-212–based therapies has long been constrained by the difficulty of producing sufficient quantities. The ATEF plant, with its nearly 7,000 square meters of floor space, will deliver production capacity ten times greater than that of Orano Med’s existing Maurice Tubiana laboratory. This scale-up will open the door to the industrial production of innovative therapies previously limited to research settings.
“The ATEF plant is a key component in Orano Med’s fully integrated industrial platform. This platform will cover the entire value chain of targeted alpha therapies, from precursor production to lead-212–based therapies. It will enable the large-scale production of these treatments to meet the needs of patients worldwide,” said Fabrice Darvey, Director of Industrial Operations at Orano Med.
Investment in the Future of Healthcare
The construction of ATEF represents a total investment of approximately €250 million, including €22 million in French government funding under the France 2030 scheme, specifically through the “Industrialization and Health Capacities 2030” initiative. This public-private commitment reflects the strategic importance of the facility for France’s future in healthcare innovation and industrial leadership.
The coming months will focus on completing civil engineering works, followed by the installation and qualification of specialized plant equipment. By 2027, the facility is expected to be fully operational, supplying the isotopes needed to accelerate both clinical trials and the commercial launch of Orano Med’s therapies.
Meeting Global Medical Needs
Orano Med’s ambition extends well beyond France. By combining the production capacities of ATEF with those of the Maurice Tubiana laboratory, the company will, in the short term, be able to provide reliable supplies for clinical trials and the introduction of its first commercial treatments.
Looking ahead, Orano Med forecasts that within the next decade, its industrial platform will be able to treat up to 25,000 patients annually. This represents a quantum leap in availability for patients worldwide who may benefit from targeted alpha therapy, particularly those with cancers that remain resistant to conventional treatments.
A Strategic Vision for Oncology
Orano Med’s work is anchored in its mission to transform cancer care through innovation. Targeted alpha therapies use the high-energy properties of lead-212 isotopes to destroy cancer cells with remarkable precision while limiting damage to surrounding healthy tissue. This approach is considered one of the most promising frontiers in oncology, offering new hope for patients with difficult-to-treat cancers.
The establishment of ATEF is central to realizing this vision. By solving the bottleneck of isotope supply, Orano Med will ensure that the promise of lead-212 therapies can transition from research laboratories into hospitals and clinics worldwide.
Looking Forward
As the ATEF project progresses toward its 2027 launch, it embodies the convergence of science, industry, and regional development. It symbolizes both a technological leap in cancer therapy production and a commitment to economic vitality in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region.
For Orano Med, ATEF is not merely an industrial project but a cornerstone of its long-term strategy: to build an integrated global platform for targeted alpha therapies and establish itself as a leader in oncology innovation.
In the words of project manager Bruno Pagnard, the collective effort driving ATEF reflects “the full commitment of our partners and all the companies and stakeholders involved.” With this collaborative momentum, the facility is well-positioned to meet its 2027 target and usher in a new era of large-scale cancer treatment solutions.
In achieving this milestone, Orano Med takes one step closer to its goal: making targeted alpha therapies widely accessible and changing the trajectory of cancer treatment for patients around the world.
About Orano Med
Orano Med, a subsidiary of the Orano Group, is a clinical-stage biotechnology company which develops a new generation of targeted therapies against cancer using the unique properties of lead-212 (212Pb), an alpha-emitting radioisotope and one of the more potent therapeutic payloads against cancer cells known as Targeted Alpha-Emitter Therapy (TAT). AlphaMedix, its most advanced asset in clinical development for GEP-NETs tumors, received Breakthrough Designation from the FDA in 2024.
The company is advancing several potential treatments using 212Pb combined with various targeting agents through clinical and preclinical studies. Orano Med has 212Pb manufacturing facilities, laboratories, and R&D centers in France and in the US. It is expanding its GMP-manufacturing capacities for 212Pb radiolabeled pharmaceuticals in North America and Europe and building a unique, independent, and fully integrated industrial platform to serve the needs of patients globally. For more information, please visit: http://www.oranomed.com
About Orano
As a recognized international leading operator in the field of nuclear materials, Orano delivers solutions to address present and future global energy and health challenges. Its expertise and mastery of cutting-edge technologies enable Orano to offer its customers high value-added products and services throughout the entire fuel cycle. Every day, the Orano group’s 17,500 employees draw on their skills, unwavering dedication to safety and constant quest for innovation, with the commitment to develop know-how in the transformation and control of nuclear materials, for the climate and for a healthy and resource-efficient world, now and tomorrow.
Orano, giving nuclear energy its full value.
