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From: TT
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Photo: Jacques Brinon / AP / TT
The French Medicines Agency and the pharmaceutical giant Sanofi are facing a major scandal in which tens of thousands of children have been born with disabilities of varying degrees, which is linked to a drug that their mothers took. Stock Photography.
The French Medicines Agency is being prosecuted for homicide and equivalent bodily harm in a giant scandal in which tens of thousands of mothers who took a drug had children with birth defects.
The drug in question is called valproate and was marketed under the name Depakine by the French company Sanofi. It was prescribed to treat epilepsy, migraines, and bipolarity, but studies have shown that pregnant women who take it have a significantly higher risk of having children with congenital intellectual disabilities, autism, or learning disabilities.
Between 15,000 and 30,000 cases have been identified. The drug hit the market in 1967.
In July, a court ruled that the French state is liable for damages in the case. In the wake of the legal consequences, drug experts are accused of being aware of the risks of birth defects starting in 1983 and autism and learning disabilities since 2004.
Sanofi is also charged with murder, but the company claims they warned authorities from the start.
The Medical Products Agency declares that it fully cooperates with the judiciary.
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