Orano Med, a leading specialist in the development of targeted alpha therapies for oncology, has taken a significant stride forward with the opening of its first Alpha Therapy Laboratory. Situated in Brownsburg, near Indianapolis, US, ATLab stands as the world's first industrial-scale pharmaceutical facility solely dedicated to the production of lead-212-based radioligand therapies. This groundbreaking facility has the potential to offer North American cancer patients further treatment options, bringing hope to those in need.
Guillaume Dureau, Senior Executive Vice-President Projects & Innovation R&D and Nuclear Medicine for the Orano Group, emphasized the significance of this development, stating, "Coupled with the lead-212 production capacity of our research unit in Plano, Texas, the Domestic Distribution & Purification Unit, this new industrial site will enable us to serve North American patients requiring targeted lead-212 radiotherapy treatments."
Targeted Alpha Therapy with lead-212 represents a promising approach in cancer treatment, combining the precision of biological molecules in targeting cancer cells with the potent, short-range cell-killing capabilities of lead-212 generated alpha emissions. This innovative therapy aims to provide patients with better treatment outcomes, offering a ray of hope in their battle against cancer.
The development of radiopharmaceuticals has long been hindered by the challenges associated with manufacturing and distributing these treatments on an industrial scale. Orano Med's ATLab Indianapolis addresses this issue head-on, marking a significant step towards making these new treatments accessible to patients with unmet needs in North America.
With an impressive 30,000 square feet of floor space, ATLab Indianapolis represents a substantial investment of $20 million and is expected to create 25 jobs. The facility will focus on the production and distribution of lead-212 therapies developed by Orano Med, serving the North American region. In 2023, Orano Med also commenced construction on a similar facility in Valenciennes, France, to cater to the European market.
The combined capacity of these facilities will enable Orano Med to manufacture 10,000 doses annually worldwide by 2025, with an ambitious goal of increasing production tenfold by the end of the decade. This expansion demonstrates Orano Med's commitment to meeting the growing demand for targeted alpha therapies and improving patient access to these innovative treatments.
Julien Dodet, CEO of Orano Med, expressed his confidence in the potential of lead-212 radioligand therapies, stating, "We are convinced that lead-212 radioligand therapies will soon become an essential tool in the fight against cancer. Having obtained, together with our partner RadioMedix, Breakthrough Therapy Designation from the FDA for our most advanced drug AlphaMedix, the inauguration of ATLab Indianapolis represents another major step forward in the development, production, and distribution of these new treatments on a large scale."
