Étiénne-Émile Baulieu, the French biochemist who developed mifepristone, the leading abortion drug, died at 98. Known for his outspoken views on reproductive rights, Baulieu advocated for women's rights while expressing personal ambivalence about abortion. His pioneering work in hormone research led to significant breakthroughs in birth control methods and established mifepristone as a pivotal drug in reproductive healthcare. Through his efforts, Baulieu navigated the complexities of pharmaceutical industry interests and public health needs, leaving a lasting impact on the discourse surrounding women's rights and healthcare access.
"I do not like abortion," Mr. Baulieu wrote in his 1992 book, "The Abortion Pill". "But neither do I believe that women should be deprived of their most fundamental rights."
Dr. Baulieu, who specialized in hormone research at a French government lab, had already made by the 1970s one breakthrough discovery relating to a hormone and certain health risks.
He knew that the French drug company Roussel-Uclaf - where he was a consultant on drug development - would not invest in a sex-hormone drug linked to birth control.
The key for Dr. Baulieu was that cortisone had a chemical structure similar to that of progesterone.
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