VALENCIENNES, France — October 2, 2026
Orano Med inaugurated ATLab Valenciennes, described by the company as Europe’s first industrial-scale pharmaceutical facility dedicated to producing lead-212-based targeted alpha therapies (TATs) for cancer treatment. Located in Onnaing, France, the facility is designed to manufacture a new generation of targeted radioligand therapies at scale for European patients. The more than 3,000-square-meter facility represents a €29 million investment and is expected to create approximately 25 direct jobs. Supported by nearly €3.8 million under the France 2030 plan, ATLab Valenciennes is expected to reach production of up to 10,000 doses per year in the medium term, with potential capacity increasing fivefold when operating at full capacity. The inauguration marks a major manufacturing milestone for Orano Med as it expands its industrial infrastructure for targeted alpha therapies.
ATLab Valenciennes Addresses Lead-212 Logistics
The Valenciennes facility has been designed around the demanding logistics associated with lead-212-based therapies. Lead-212 has a half-life of approximately 10.6 hours, meaning therapies must be produced, transported and administered to patients within approximately 24 hours. Orano Med said the Onnaing facility’s location, around two hours from Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Brussels-Zaventem airports, is intended to support rapid distribution to hospitals across Europe. The company estimates that the site can potentially reach nearly 70% of the European population within the required treatment timeframe. The facility therefore combines industrial-scale manufacturing with a strategically positioned logistics network designed specifically for the short-lived radioactive isotope. Orano Med is also commissioning a similar ATLab production facility in Indianapolis, United States, to support the North American market.
Orano Med Builds Integrated Alpha Therapy Platform
ATLab Valenciennes forms part of Orano Med’s integrated industrial platform for lead-212 targeted alpha therapies, combining manufacturing capabilities with a patented chemical process for lead-212 production and secured access to raw materials. The company is developing this infrastructure to address key challenges associated with the emerging radiopharmaceutical field, including isotope availability, manufacturing scalability and time-sensitive distribution. Targeted alpha therapies use radioactive alpha particles directed toward cancer cells, with the objective of delivering potent radiation to tumor tissue. Orano Med’s industrial strategy is intended to create a scalable manufacturing network capable of supporting clinical development and eventual commercial supply. The company said the Valenciennes and Indianapolis facilities together strengthen its ability to manage the production and distribution requirements associated with short-lived lead-212 therapies.
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Orano Med Advances Clinical TAT Pipeline
The new manufacturing capacity supports Orano Med’s expanding targeted alpha therapy pipeline, with four drug candidates currently in human clinical development, including proprietary programs and candidates co-developed with Sanofi, Roche and Molecular Partners. In parallel, Orano Med is advancing additional preclinical programs intended to extend lead-212 targeted alpha therapy into other cancer types. The company views ATLab Valenciennes as a key step toward establishing European production capacity for these therapies and supporting access to potential new treatments for cancers with significant unmet medical needs. With the Valenciennes site now inaugurated and a second facility being commissioned in Indianapolis, Orano Med is building a geographically distributed manufacturing platform designed to support the next stage of lead-212 targeted alpha therapy development and delivery.
Source: Orano Med, press release
