pregnant woman – illustration. – SUPERSTOCK / SUPERSTOCK / SIPA
    • 10/08/2016 at 08:13
    • updated

More than 10,000 pregnant women have taken the Depakine, an antiepileptic drug accused of causing birth defects, between 2007 and 2014? Yes, according to Le Canard chained published on Wednesday

In an article entitled. “Depakine: medical study that hides the ministry,” the weekly accuses the Ministry of Health concealing a study “alarming” conducted jointly by the drug agency ANSM and the national Health insurance Fund (CNAMTS).

the Ministry of Health denied

the Depakine is a drug used to treat epilepsy. It is marketed in France by Sanofi laboratory since 1967, and also in generic form. It contains sodium valproate, a substance involved in for several years because of a high risk of fetal malformations – around 10% – as well as a higher risk of intellectual delays, difficulty walk, and autism, up to 40% of exposed children.

The d & # xe9; pakine is a m & # xe9; anti dicament - & # xe9; epilepsy.
The Dépakine is an anti-epileptic drug. – LODI Franck / SIPA

& gt; & gt; Read also: Depakine: Over 400 recorded birth defects

According to the Chained Duck, the first part of the study have been communicated to the Ministry of Health in mid-July, but “carefully hidden from the families.” The Ministry of Health denied, stating that “the first part” of the study will be presented to the parents of children with the Association with anticonvulsant syndrome (Apesac) on 24 August. He did not comment on the figures published by the Duck .

“This meeting was scheduled at the end of July. The ministry will review, in connection with the representative association of the families with which it works closely, the measures appear necessary to implement “the ministry said, adding that the study and the” action plan to be prepared on this basis “will for their part made public in early September, 2016.

Nearly 30,000 victims of the drug

Apesac had raised the alarm in 2014, accusing the authorities and Sanofi sanitary have delayed action while the risks of valproate have long been known. She estimates that nearly 30,000 the number of victims of the drug since 1967. In February, the General Inspectorate of Social Affairs (IGAS) had for its part evaluated
 450 the number of children born with birth defects between 2006 and 2014 after being exposed in utero to valproate.

In 2014, before the introduction of new restrictions on use, 93,000 women age of childbearing taking the drug in France, including 37,000 to 56,000 for epilepsy and bipolar disorder.

Following the report of IGAS, the Health Minister Marisol Touraine has announced the creation of a die to take support child victims. She also received the President of the Apesac to advance the issue of compensation.

The president of Apesac, Marine Martin, said on Wednesday at the microphone of Europe 1 that “the responsibility of the state and the laboratory is huge in this health scandal. ” “The Health Agency covered the laboratory continuing to give authorization for the product on the market. So there is a complicity of governments that have succeeded, “said she continued

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