Sanofi investigated over epilepsy drug linked to birth defects
Skip to main content
  • Home
  • Economy
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • World+Biz
  • Sports
  • Features
  • Epaper
  • More
    • Subscribe
    • COVID-19
    • Bangladesh
    • Splash
    • Videos
    • Games
    • Long Read
    • Infograph
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Thoughts
    • Podcast
    • Quiz
    • Tech
    • Archive
    • Trial By Trivia
    • Magazine
    • Supplement
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard

Monday
July 04, 2022

Sign In
Subscribe
  • Home
  • Economy
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • World+Biz
  • Sports
  • Features
  • Epaper
  • More
    • Subscribe
    • COVID-19
    • Bangladesh
    • Splash
    • Videos
    • Games
    • Long Read
    • Infograph
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Thoughts
    • Podcast
    • Quiz
    • Tech
    • Archive
    • Trial By Trivia
    • Magazine
    • Supplement
  • বাংলা
MONDAY, JULY 04, 2022
Sanofi investigated over epilepsy drug linked to birth defects

World+Biz

Reuters
04 February, 2020, 05:30 pm
Last modified: 04 February, 2020, 05:31 pm

Related News

  • Healthcare companies Sanofi and GSK to seek Covid-19 vaccine regulatory approval
  • Beximco Pharma completes Sanofi acquisition
  • France's Sanofi halts work on mRNA Covid vaccine
  • Beximco Pharma inks Sanofi acquisition deal
  • Sanofi's Covid-19 vaccine setback, drug pipeline cast long shadow

Sanofi investigated over epilepsy drug linked to birth defects

Sanofi said in a statement that the indictment will allow it to defend itself and to “prove it has always complied with its to duty to inform and been transparent”

Reuters
04 February, 2020, 05:30 pm
Last modified: 04 February, 2020, 05:31 pm
FILE PHOTO: A logo of Sanofi is pictured during the company's shareholders meeting in Paris, France, April 30, 2019. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A logo of Sanofi is pictured during the company's shareholders meeting in Paris, France, April 30, 2019. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier/File Photo

French healthcare company Sanofi said on Tuesday it was being investigated over Depakine, an epilepsy drug which caused birth malfunctions and slow neurological development when taken during pregnancy.

The Paris prosecutor launched a preliminary investigation into the authorization and marketing of Depakine in October 2016 after French social affairs inspection agency IGAS criticized the slow response of French health authorities and Sanofi over the risks related to the drug and its derivatives.

Sanofi said in a statement that the indictment will allow it to defend itself and to "prove it has always complied with its to duty to inform and been transparent".

Sodium valproate, the active molecule in the drug, has been on the market since 1967 to treat epilepsy and bipolar disorder. It features on the World Health Organization's (WHO) list of "essential medicines".

IGAS estimated that between 2006 and 2014, 425 to 450 babies suffered congenital birth defects or were stillborn following exposure to Depakine.

Marine Martin, president of victims association APESAC, said on Twitter she was "extremely satisfied to see the criminal proceedings she launched in 2016 reach an important threshold".

"Sanofi will have to deal with the tens of thousands of poisoned victims, out of which more than a hundred died".

The French firm become aware of the risk of fetus malformation in the 1980s and then, around 2003, of the drug's impact on the neurological development of the fetus, with a risk of autism or learning difficulties.

Sanofi, which in January 2019 said that it would not take part in any compensation for Depakine, added it would continue to "fully cooperate with the judicial authorities", and was "confident" over the outcome of the procedure.

Its shares were up 0.6% at 09h00 GMT on the Paris stock market, broadly in line with the pharmaceutical sector .SXDP.

Sanofi

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • China’s new Covid flareup threatens crucial economic region, raising supply chain worries
    China’s new Covid flareup threatens crucial economic region, raising supply chain worries
  • Biman increases flights on domestic routes ahead of Eid
    Biman increases flights on domestic routes ahead of Eid
  • Photo: Collected
    Ex-BCL leader sets himself on fire at Press Club

MOST VIEWED

  • A 3D printed natural gas pipeline is placed in front of displayed Gazprom logo in this illustration taken February 8, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
    Gazprom proposes adding LNG to rouble-for-gas scheme -Ifax
  • A police officer in a protective suit checks on a commuter at a subway station, after the lockdown placed to curb the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak was lifted in Shanghai, China June 2, 2022. REUTERS/Aly Song/File Photo
    Hacker claims to have stolen 1B records of Chinese citizens from police
  • Photo: Collected
    Uganda discovers gold deposits worth 12 trillion USD
  • China’s new Covid flareup threatens crucial economic region, raising supply chain worries
    China’s new Covid flareup threatens crucial economic region, raising supply chain worries
  • Photo :BSS
    China rejects NASA accusation it will take over the moon
  • RT app is seen on a smartphone in front of their logo in this illustration taken February 28, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration
    Interest for news lower than before across globe: Report 

Related News

  • Healthcare companies Sanofi and GSK to seek Covid-19 vaccine regulatory approval
  • Beximco Pharma completes Sanofi acquisition
  • France's Sanofi halts work on mRNA Covid vaccine
  • Beximco Pharma inks Sanofi acquisition deal
  • Sanofi's Covid-19 vaccine setback, drug pipeline cast long shadow

Features

Last month Swapan Kumar Biswas, the acting principal of Mirzapur United College, was forced to wear a garland of shoes for ‘hurting religious sentiments.’ Photo: Collected

Where do teachers rank in our society?

7h | Panorama
Japanese Ambassador Naoki Ito. Sketch: TBS

'The game-changing projects are in line with the Bay of Bengal Industrial Growth Belt initiative'

9h | Panorama
A Glittery Eid

A Glittery Eid

1d | Mode
Rise’s target customers are people who crave to express themselves through what they wear, and their clothing line is not relegated to any age range.

Level up your Eid game with Rise

1d | Mode

More Videos from TBS

Why Mbappe cheated Real Madrid

Why Mbappe cheated Real Madrid

8m | Videos
How useful will the government's plan to save money?

How useful will the government's plan to save money?

8m | Videos
Photo: TBS

Jahangirnagar University protest recent harassment of teachers

3h | Videos
Sanitary Napkin vending machines makes life easier for CU students

Sanitary Napkin vending machines makes life easier for CU students

6h | Videos

Most Read

1
Meet the man behind 'Azke amar mon balo nei'
Splash

Meet the man behind 'Azke amar mon balo nei'

2
TBS Illustration
Education

Universities may launch online classes again after Eid

3
Padma Bridge from satellite. Photo: Screengrab
Bangladesh

Padma Bridge from satellite 

4
Photo: Collected
Economy

Tech startup ShopUp bags $65m in Series B4 funding

5
World Bank to give Bangladesh $18b IDA loans in next five years
Economy

World Bank to give Bangladesh $18b IDA loans in next five years

6
Investor Hiru fined Tk2cr for market manipulation
Stocks

Investor Hiru fined Tk2cr for market manipulation

EMAIL US
contact@tbsnews.net
FOLLOW US
WHATSAPP
+880 1847416158
The Business Standard
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Sitemap
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
Copyright © 2022
The Business Standard All rights reserved
Technical Partner: RSI Lab
BENEATH THE SURFACE
Sun Drying Paddy in Monsoon: Workers in a rice mill at Shonarumpur in Ashuganj arrange paddy grains in lumps on an open field to dry out moisture through sunlight. During the rainy season, workers have to take cautions so that the grains do not get wet in the rains. Photo: Rajib Dhar

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - oped.tbs@gmail.com

For advertisement- sales@tbsnews.net