Name of the Project
Advanced thorium extraction facility (ATEF).
Location
Bessines-sur-Gartempe in Haute-Vienne, western France.
Project Owner/s
Orano Group subsidiary Orano Med.
Project Description
This facility is the world's first industrial plant dedicated to the production of thorium 228, a precursor of lead 212, for radioligand therapies.
Radioligland is a microscopic particle that consists of a therapeutic radioactive isotope and the cell-targeting compound – the ligand.
Lead 212-targeted alpha therapy combines the ability of biological molecules to target cancer cells with the cell-killing potential of alpha emissions generated by lead 212.
The development of these radiopharmaceuticals has long been hindered by the difficulty of producing them on an industrial scale.
ATEF will supply all the laboratories set to manufacture lead 212-based drugs for patients worldwide.
Potential Job Creation
The project will create about 70 direct and 100 indirect jobs.
Capital Expenditure
€250-million.
Planned Start/End Date
The project is scheduled for commissioning in 2027.
Latest Developments
None stated.
Key Contracts, Suppliers and Consultants
Not disclosed.
Contact Details for Project Information
Orano Med press office, tel +33 1 34 96 12 15 or email press@orano.group; or email Marc Quesnoy on investors@orano.group.
