Orano Med, an Orano Group subsidiary focused on targeted alpha therapy development in oncology, has begun the construction of its ATEF (Advanced Thorium Extraction Facility) plant in the Bessines-sur-Gartempe commune of France.

The facility, which will cover over 7 thousand square feet, is reportedly the world’s first industrial plant dedicated to the production of thorium-228, a precursor of lead-212, for radioligand therapies, and is expected to industrialise the production process for thorium-228, under development for over 10 years by the Laboratoire Maurice Tubiana (LMT). ATEF will supply all the ATLab (Alpha Therapy Laboratories) facilities set to manufacture lead-212-based drugs for global use.

The project represents a total investment of approximately €250 million (approximately $261 million) and the ATEF facility, scheduled for commissioning in 2027, will increase the LMT’s current production capacity tenfold.