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Mum's v Big Pharma

(4 Posts)
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granfromafar Tue 10-Nov-26 07:36:49

Did anyone watch this last night, BBC 2 9pm? A horrific story about 2 mothers from the Manchester area who had been prescribed Sodium Valproate (Epilim) for treatment of epilepsy, which caused foetal abnormalities. Their fight against the French manufacturer, Sanofi, who knew about the side effects, yet withheld the information is unbelievable. They and nearly 40.000 other families who were affected are still waiting for compensation, even though it was granted 2 years ago. Quite incredible.

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petra Tue 10-Nov-26 07:46:00

I watched it because I’ve followed the story for some time.
Sad to say nothing surprises me anymore ( and hasn’t for some years) where governments and big pharma are concerned.
This is another can that will be kicked down the road until there are no victims of left to protest.

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argymargy Tue 10-Nov-26 09:05:09

I find this odd. The teratogenic effects of valproate were known in the 90s (I know because I worked in the industry) and yet women were still being given it for decades afterwards. However these things are rarely simple. For people suffering with epilepsy there are few easy choices and clinicians & patients have to weigh up risks and benefits. Whether these women were told about the risks is another matter - nowadays it is expected but back then it wasn’t.

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Aveline Tue 10-Nov-26 09:25:40

My friend had an epileptic seizure while in labour. Which would be more dangerous a seizure or the meds? As it happened the baby was OK but it was touch and go.

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