IBA, Framatome Form JV for Industrial-scale Astatine-211 Production

04:46 AM EDT, 10/16/2026 (MT Newswires) -- Ion Beam Applications (IBAB.BR), or IBA, and nuclear energy company Framatome formed a joint venture named Ekalia to develop production infrastructure for astatine-211, an alpha-emitting radioisotope with potential applications in targeted cancer therapies. The joint venture aims to set up a network of industrial-scale Astatine-211 production sites near customers across Europe and the US, according to a Friday release. The first site is set to be in Nantes, France, and begin operating in 2028, followed by a second pilot site in the US, along with additional sites on both sides of the Atlantic. Ekalia will draw on the Belgian particle accelerator technology company's cyclotron and isotope production technologies with Framatome's industrial expertise in the nuclear sector.