Birth Defects

Pharma giant Sanofi charged with manslaughter over epilepsy drug

The charges relate to valproate, a drug marketed as Depakine among other trade names, which studies say caused disabilities in about 15,000 to 30,000 children whose mothers took the medicine.

Epilepsy drug valproate behind severe birth defects in France

Up to 4,100 children have suffered major congenital defects after their mothers took valproate to treat epilepsy. The drug has been prescribed since 1967.