New twist in the Dépakine scandal, this antiepileptic on sale since 1967 and whose effect on the fetus causes congenital malformations and neurodevelopmental disorders (impairment of IQ, autism). According to our information, the administrative court of Montreuil (Seine-Saint-Denis) rejected, Tuesday, May 18, a request filed by the pharmaceutical group Sanofi-Aventis France, which markets the controversial drug.
The said request requested the annulment of the appointment, in July 2019, of the whistleblower Marine Martin as a member of the permanent scientific committee “reproduction, pregnancy and lactation” of the National Agency for the Safety of Medicines and Health Products (ANSM ), a public establishment placed under the supervision of the Ministry of Health.
In its application, filed before the administrative court, Sanofi-Aventis France questioned the impartiality of Mr.me Martin, insofar as the latter, as president of the Association for the Assistance of Parents of Children Suffering from Anticonvulsant Syndrome (Apesac), has “Adopted public positions against” of the pharmaceutical group and “Introduced various judicial and administrative procedures”.
Sanofi Board, Me Armand Aviges, further noted that Mr.me Martin and Apesac ” [étaie]nt civil parties to criminal proceedings which relate to[ait] the laboratory and the ANSM ” and pointed “The existence of a conflict of interest”.
Sanofi indicted for “manslaughter”
Mother of “Two child victims of Depakine”, Mme Martin founded Apesac, “An association which today brings together 7,500 victims” and which is at the origin of several legal proceedings, in 2011.
Already prosecuted since February 2020 for “unintentional injuries” and “aggravated deception”, Sanofi was indicted for “manslaughter” in July 2020. The legal information aims in particular to determine whether the laboratory can be held responsible for the death, in 1990, 1996, 2011 and 2014, four babies, whose ages ranged from a few weeks to a few months.
In its judgment, the Montreuil administrative tribunal recalls that the ANSM’s permanent scientific committee for “reproduction, pregnancy and breastfeeding” has an advisory role and that“It does not emerge from the documents in the file, assuming that the various legal proceedings brought by Mr.me Martin be regarded as constituting a link of interest requiring her to deport herself, that she should do so at such a frequency as to compromise the normal functioning of the permanent scientific committee “reproduction, pregnancy and lactation”, or a fortiori that of ANSM ”.
You have 50.51% of this article left to read. The rest is for subscribers only.