IRE selects Lemer Pax to equip its new radiopharmaceutical CDMO facility in Fleurus
Fleurus, Belgium – January 13, 2026
IRE (The National Institute for Radioelements) has selected Lemer Pax, a French expert in radiation protection solutions, to supply the shielded hot cells for its new radiopharmaceutical CDMO (Contract Development and Manufacturing Organisation) facility currently under construction at its Fleurus site.
This strategic investment marks a major milestone in the rollout of IRE’s CDMO service offering.
It will provide pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies with a fully GMP-compliant environment dedicated to the development, manufacturing, and delivery of innovative radiopharmaceutical products. Designed to meet the most stringent safety and quality requirements, Lemer Pax’s high-performance hot cells will enable the implementation of flexible, secure, and scalable processes adapted to a wide range of radionuclides used in Nuclear Medicine.
With these new CDMO production lines, IRE is reinforcing its ambition to actively support the development of next-generation radiopharmaceutical therapies.
Selecting Lemer Pax reflects our strong commitment to industrial excellence, operational safety, and the highest manufacturing standards.
Erich Kollegger, CEO of IRE
We are extremely proud that our solutions were selected following such a rigorous evaluation process. Contributing to the development of a state-of-the-art CDMO infrastructure dedicated to radiopharmaceutical innovation fully demonstrates our expertise and our mission: delivering equipment that combines protection, ergonomics, and performance.
Pierre-Marie Lemer, President of Lemer Pax
This new service offering will be unique in Europe, covering the entire radiopharmaceutical value chain—from radioisotope supply and production through quality control and final distribution.
By integrating these capabilities and leveraging its recognized expertise, IRE further strengthens its role as a key player within the Belgium Radiopharma Valley, a leading European hub for radiopharmaceutical innovation.
Installation and integration of the shielded hot cells are scheduled to begin in early 2027, followed by laboratory completion, qualification, and regulatory authorization phases. The CDMO facility is expected to become operational in the second half of 2027, representing a major step in IRE’s innovation and diversification strategy.
About IRE – IRE ELiT
The National Institute for Radioelements (IRE) is a public-interest foundation whose core activity is the production of radioisotopes for diagnostic and therapeutic applications in nuclear medicine. IRE is the world leader in the production of Molybdenum-99 and Iodine-131, two of the most widely used isotopes in nuclear medicine for a broad range of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures.
Beyond isotope production, IRE contributes to environmental protection and monitoring through its IRE Lab division, which provides radioactivity measurement services, radiological characterization of radioactive waste and contaminated materials, as well as consultancy and technical support in the radiological and nuclear fields.
Founded in 2010, IRE ELiT is IRE’s innovation-focused subsidiary dedicated to the end-to-end development of radiopharmaceutical medicinal products for imaging and cancer treatment. Together, IRE and IRE ELiT employ more than 280 people.
Find out more: www.ire.eu
About Lemer Pax
A pioneer in radiation protection calculations and the historic manufacturer of the first shielded hot cells for radioisotope production in France in the 1950s, the Lemer Group has continuously expanded this expertise. With more than 70 years of experience, Lemer Pax offers state-of-the-art solutions, including shielded hot cell production lines for radioisotopes, automated systems for radiopharmaceutical dose preparation and injection, transport containers, and radioactive effluent management systems.
Committed to continuous technological innovation, the company actively contributes to the advancement of practices in Nuclear Medicine.
France
