Orano Med, a pioneer in cancer-fighting radioligand therapies, officially opened the doors to a major expansion of its Research and Development Center in Plano.
The facility, which has been part of the community for 15 years, now features more lab space, increased production capacity and a new name: the Drug Development and Preclinical Unit (DDPU) – George de Hevesy Center.
The expansion represents a $5 million investment and adds about 11,000 square feet to the existing site — nearly a 50% increase in space. That includes 5,000 square feet of state-of-the-art lab space and 5,500 square feet of new offices to accommodate a growing team whose size has doubled over the past four years.
Bringing Advanced Cancer Therapies Closer to Reality
At the heart of Orano Med’s work is lead-212, a rare and powerful radioactive element that the company uses to develop targeted alpha therapies. These therapies are designed to attack cancer cells with precision, delivering radiation directly to the tumor while sparing healthy tissue.
The Plano facility is central to this effort, supporting both in-house research and collaborations with biotech and pharmaceutical companies. With cutting-edge equipment and a growing team of scientists, the center can conduct every phase of early drug development onsite, from initial research to preclinical testing and clinical trial preparation.
Why This Matters
While the science behind radioligand therapy is complex, the goal is simple: to develop new ways to treat cancer that are more precise, effective and less damaging to the body than traditional treatments. Orano Med’s expanded Plano center plays a critical role in moving these therapies from the lab bench to real-world use in clinical trials — and eventually, to patients.
“With an integrated platform, cutting-edge equipment and a focused scientific strategy, we are well-positioned to support both our internal developments and collaborations with partners,” Orano Med Chief Scientific Officer Julien Torgue said in a statement.
A Commitment to Plano and the Future of Cancer Research
As research continues and the company’s pipeline of new therapies grows, Plano’s role as a center of cancer research and innovation is only getting stronger.
“This expansion marks an important step in Orano Med’s growth at our Plano site, which has played a key role since the inception of the company 15 years ago,” President and CEO Arnaud Lesegretain said. “It reinforces our world-class R&D capabilities in the U.S. and strengthens our ability to deliver innovative targeted alpha therapies by supporting early-stage development in a fully integrated environment.”
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