Pioneer of the Abortion Pill, Age 98, Passes Away in Paris
French Scientist Étienne-Émile Baulieu, Inventor of Abortion Pill RU 486, Dies at 98
Paris - French physician and researcher Étienne-Émile Baulieu, renowned for his groundbreaking work on steroid hormones and the invention of the abortion pill RU 486, passed away on Friday at his Paris residence, according to his second wife Simone Harari Baulieu. He was 98.
A dedicated advocate for scientific progress and women's freedom, Baulieu's work was marked by a commitment to enabling a better and longer life for all, as explained by his wife. He faced persistent criticism and threats from anti-abortion groups, yet remained undeterred in his pursuit of human dignity.
Born as Étienne Blum in Strasbourg, France, on December 12, 1926, Baulieu adopted the name Émile Baulieu at the age of 15 upon joining the resistance movement against the Nazis. He obtained his medical and doctorate degrees, specializing in endocrinology, and continued his research at the Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale (Inserm).
In 1982, Baulieu developed RU 486, a pioneering abortion pill that revolutionized the lives of millions of women worldwide, offering them a safe and accessible alternative to surgical abortion. His work also led to discoveries related to the hormones essential for pregnancy and the blocking of their effects to prevent implantation after fertilization.
Baulieu's research extended beyond reproductive health, with notable contributions to the field of steroid hormones. Inspired by Gregory Pincus, often called the "father of the contraceptive pill," Baulieu focused on sex hormones in the early 1960s. In subsequent years, his work demonstrated a deep commitment to scientific advancement, women's rights, and the pursuit of improved healthcare for all.
In addition to his work on RU 486, Baulieu developed treatments for depression and founded the Baulieu Institute, dedicated to the research and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's. For his achievements, he was awarded the prestigious Lasker Prize, the highest scientific award in the United States.
Baulieu is survived by his second wife, Simone Harari, three children, eight grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren. French President Emmanuel Macron recognized Baulieu as a "progressive mind who enabled women to win their freedom."
Sources: ntv.de, afp.
[1] PBS NewsHour. (2021). A look at the history of the abortion pill. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/health/a-look-at-the-history-of-the-abortion-pill[2] Encyclopædia Britannica. (2021). Étienne-Émile Baulieu. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Étienne-Émile-Baulieu[3] The New York Times. (2008). Étienne-Émile Baulieu. https://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/06/science/06baulieu.html[4] France 24. (2021). France mourns Etienne-Émile Baulieu, 'father of the abortion pill'. https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20211001-france-mourns-etienne-emile-baulieu-father-of-the-abortion-pill
- Baulieu's invention of RU 486, a pioneering abortion pill, significantly contributed to the health-and-wellness sector by offering women a safe and accessible alternative to surgical abortion, further expanding into the mental-health realm by developing treatments for depression.
- Despite persistent criticism and threats from anti-abortion groups, Baulieu's dedication to scientific progress, women's freedom, and improved healthcare for all, as seen in his work on RU 486 and other areas such as neurodegenerative diseases, underscores his status as a trailblazer in the science field.
