French firm Sanofi indicted over epilepsy drug Depakine - BBC News

French pharmaceutical firm Sanofi is being investigated for possible manslaughter charges in France over the deaths of four babies whose mothers took the anti-epilepsy drug valproate

Marketed in France as Depakine, it was found to carry a high risk of birth defects if taken by pregnant women

It is already being prosecuted in France for allegedly providing misleading information about the drug

It has been known for many years that the drug should not be given to pregnant women, because of the high risk of congenital malformations or autism in their babies