Etienne-Emile Baulieu, the renowned French scientist who developed the abortion pill mifepristone (RU-486), has died at the age of 98
He passed away peacefully at his home in Paris on Friday, according to his wife, Simone Harari Baulieu.
Baulieu rose to global prominence for his groundbreaking work in reproductive medicine, offering millions of women a safe, non-surgical option for abortion through the invention of mifepristone in 1982.
French President Emmanuel Macron paid tribute to Baulieu, calling him “a beacon of courage” and “a progressive mind who enabled women to win their freedom.” In a post on X, Macron added, “Few French people have changed the world to such an extent.”
Simone Harari Baulieu praised her husband’s lifelong dedication to science and women’s rights. “His research was guided by his commitment to the progress made possible by science, his dedication to women’s freedom, and his desire to enable everyone to live better, longer lives,” she said.
Born Etienne Blum on December 12, 1926, in Strasbourg to Jewish parents, Baulieu joined the French resistance at just 15. He later changed his name to Emile Baulieu. Trained as a doctor, he specialized in steroid hormones and was encouraged by Gregory Pincus, developer of the contraceptive pill, to explore sex hormone research.
His work on blocking progesterone, a hormone essential for pregnancy, led to the development of mifepristone. The pill became a global milestone in reproductive healthcare, though it sparked decades of debate, legal battles, and threats from anti-abortion groups.
“Adversity slides off him like water off a duck’s back,” his wife told AFP.
In 2023, Macron awarded him France’s highest honor, acknowledging the backlash Baulieu faced: “You, a Jew and a resistance fighter, you were overwhelmed with the most atrocious insults and even compared to Nazi scientists. But you held on, for the love of freedom and science.”
Baulieu continued to advocate for women’s rights well into his 90s. At 96, he condemned the abortion pill ban in Wyoming as “scandalous.”
Beyond reproductive health, Baulieu contributed to Alzheimer’s and depression research and continued his scientific work late into his life. He also discovered the hormone DHEA in 1963, later used in some anti-aging products.
In 1989, he was awarded the Lasker Prize and remained deeply engaged with the arts. A friend of Andy Warhol, Baulieu often expressed admiration for artists, once saying, “I’m fascinated by artists who claim to have access to the human soul—something that will forever remain beyond the reach of scientists.”
He is survived by his wife, three children, eight grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren.
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