Orano Med has officially opened ATLab Valenciennes, Europe’s first industrial facility entirely dedicated to the production of lead-212-based targeted alpha therapies (TAT). Located in Onnaing, northern France, the site marks a decisive step from experimental research to large-scale manufacturing of one of the most anticipated drug classes in oncology today.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by Claude Imauven, Chairman of Orano’s Board of Directors, and Nicolas Maes, CEO of the group. At interim capacity, ATLab Valenciennes will be able to produce up to 10,000 doses per year, with the potential to scale up fivefold at full operation. The facility covers more than 3,000 square metres, represents a €29 million investment, and is expected to create around 25 direct jobs. The project was selected under the France 2030 plan and received nearly €3.8 million in public funding.
Lead-212 targeted alpha therapies work on a precise principle: lead-212 combines the natural ability of biological molecules to home in on cancer cells with the high-energy properties of alpha emissions, which act within an extremely limited range. The result is highly targeted tumour destruction with minimal damage to surrounding healthy tissue. Until now, the development of these therapies had been held back by the absence of facilities capable of producing them at industrial scale. ATLab Valenciennes removes that barrier for the European market.
The two ATLab facilities together form Orano Med’s integrated global industrial platform. Underpinned by a proprietary chemical process for lead-212 production and secured access to raw materials, Orano Med is well positioned to tackle the key challenges in TAT manufacturing — including isotope availability and production scalability. The short half-life of lead-212 — just 10.6 hours — means these drugs must be produced close to the hospitals where they will be used. The plant’s location in the heart of the Valenciennes metropolitan area, with fast access to Brussels and Paris-Roissy airports, directly addresses this logistical constraint.
The Brownsburg ATLab, near Indianapolis, was already inaugurated in June 2024 and serves the North American market. Valenciennes completes the picture: two production hubs, two continents, one shared platform. The project also fits within France’s broader acceleration strategy for biology and bioproduction, with a specific focus on developing new oncology therapies. The public funding secured is no minor footnote — it signals that both France and the European Union view nuclear medicine as a strategic sector worthy of targeted investment.
With ATLab Valenciennes now operational, Orano Med has the industrial infrastructure to move drug candidates still in clinical trials toward continent-wide availability. Further ATLab facilities are already planned to meet patient needs globally. Lead-212 could become one of the most significant isotopes in oncology over the next decade — and the race to build production capacity has only just begun.
