Orano Med Inaugurates new Headquarters and Scientific Excellence Center in Villejuif

Orano Med, a subsidiary of the Orano group and pioneer in the field of targeted alpha therapies for oncology, today announced the inauguration of its global headquarters and new state-of-the-art research and development laboratories in Villejuif, France. The opening ceremony took place in the presence of Philippe Baptiste, French Minister of Higher Education, Research and Space, Nicolas Maes, CEO of Orano group, Frederic Desdouits, CEO of Orano Med, as well as the company’s partners and key stakeholders, and official representatives. 

The new site is located at the heart of the Paris-Saclay Cancer Cluster (PSCC), a flagship initiative launched by the French government in 2022, as part of the “France 2030” program. The PSCC’s ambition is to establish a center of excellence for the development of innovative cancer treatments. As part of this exceptional medical research environment, Orano Med’s significant expansion of research and discovery capabilities provides advanced infrastructure designed to accelerate the identification of novel drug candidates as well as their progression from early-stage research through clinical development.

Covering nearly 700 square meters, the new site hosts 35 Orano Med employees, including the management team and part of the research staff, out of a total workforce of around 220 employees based in France and the US.

Nicolas Maes, Chief Executive Officer of Orano, commented: “This inauguration marks an important step in the development of a promising new activity for the group. The establishment of state-of-the-art R&D laboratories in France fully aligns with our long-term strategy and commitment to advancing innovative healthcare solutions. It reflects our ambition to improve patient care by offering alternative treatment options through novel lead-212-based targeted alpha therapies.”

Frederic Desdouits, Chief Executive Officer of Orano Med, added: “Today’s inauguration of our new headquarters and laboratories strengthens Orano Med’s positioning as a global player in targeted alpha therapy development. By bringing together our teams in France, at the heart of one of Europe’s most dynamic oncology ecosystems, we are creating a powerful environment for innovation. These enhanced research capabilities will allow us to accelerate the development of transformative therapies and fully leverage the unique potential of lead-212 for patients worldwide.”

Orano Med’s pipeline includes multiple drug candidates at various stages of clinical and preclinical development. Four drug candidates, proprietary or co-developed with its partners, are already in clinical development in humans, including one advanced clinical program and three Phase 1 studies. In parallel, Orano Med is advancing a broad preclinical pipeline, supported by sustained investment in novel targeting vectors designed to enhance efficacy and expand the potential applications of targeted alpha therapies across multiple cancer types.

Backed by an integrated industrial platform and a patented chemical process for lead-212 production, and secured access to raw materials, Orano Med is also well positioned to address key challenges associated with the production of these therapies, including isotope availability and scalable manufacturing.