Radiotherapy is a treatment method regularly used to treat cancer. However, to produce radioactive radiation to target and destroy cancer cells, it is necessary to use certain rare radioactive isotopes such as thorium-228, from which lead-212 is then extracted which is used to produce treatments.
With this in mind, Orano Med launched the construction of a thorium-228 production plant in Bessines-sur-Gartempe (Haute-Vienne) on Thursday, November 14, reports France Bleu Limousin.
Industrial manufacturing
“This is the first facility in the world dedicated to the production of thorium-228 for targeted radiotherapy applications”underlined on this occasion Claude Imauven, chairman of the board of directors of Orano. As recalled The Bordeaux Tribunethis project comes from the desire of Orano (formerly Cogema) to valorize raw materials from its mining activities which extended from the 1950s to 1990s.
For ten years, the Maurice Tubiana laboratory in Bessines-sur-Gartempe has been working on developing production processes for these rare isotopes, the lack of which is hampering the development of radiotherapy, a promising medical alternative.
Thanks to this research, the factory, which has been named Atef (Advanced thorium extraction facility), will be able to industrialize the manufacturing process. By 2034, it could be capable of producing 100,000 doses of medicine per year using the 22,000 drums of thorium nitrate that Orano owns. “The Orano group has a unique and abundant stock of raw materials to produce lead-212 and cover global needs”underlined Arnaud Lesegretain, general director of Orano Med.
A sustained initiative
In total, the subsidiary invested 250 million euros in this 7,000 m production site2including 22 million coming from the France 2030 Plan of which it is the winner. “The laying of the first stone of Atef is a great day for French industry”commented this Thursday Marc Ferracci The Minister Delegate in charge of Industry mentioned in passing the issues of sovereignty and public health. According to our colleagues, commissioning is planned for 2027, resulting in the creation of 70 direct jobs and 100 indirect jobs.
As recalled France Bluethe drugs in question are currently being tested on 400 to 500 people, before potentially obtaining marketing authorization by 2028. In the meantime, this treatment has already convinced Sanofi, which a few weeks ago signed a marketing contract and a strategic partnership with the company which is already valued at 1.9 billion euros. “We are convinced that vectorized internal radiotherapies will become essential in the fight against cancer in the short term”a conclu Arnaud Lesegretain.
