EXELGYN Laboratories announced that the drug mifepristone (formerly known as RU 486) has been approved for distribution in eight European countries: Germany, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Spain, Finland, Greece, and the Netherlands. Mifepristone has been approved in these countries for early medical abortion (up to 49 days).
German Catholic Church officials attempted to block Germany’s acceptance of mifepristone, which under European Union rules would have jeopardized availability of the compound throughout the EU. However, support from the governing Social Democrat and Greens parties overrode opposition from the Catholic Bishops.
Mifepristone, which gives women more reproductive choices, has been safely and effectively used by more than 500,000 women worldwide. The medication is now available in France, Great Britain, and Sweden.
Exelgyn will market mifepristone under the trade name, Mifegyne. This medication was developed by Dr. Edouard Sakiz, former CEO of Roussel Uclaf and now CEO of the EXELGYN Laboratories, to ensure women a safe, non-surgical method of terminating a pregnancy within the first trimester.
