Étienne-Émile Baulieu (1929-2025): Scientist of steroids and champion of women's reproductive rights

• 成果类型: Editorial Material
• 署名作者: Pederson, Thoru
• 署名单位: University of Massachusetts System; University of Massachusetts Worcester; UMass Chan Medical School
• 刊物名称: PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0027-12658
• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2517065122
• 发表日期: 2025-08-19
• 关键词: antiprogesterone; binding; ru-486

摘要

Having trained as a physician, & Eacute;tienne-& Eacute;mile Baulieu soon turned his focus to research, as early as his medical internship. He went on to make major contributions on ketosteroids and other steroids, such as estrogen, and how they act on target organs through receptors to which the hormones bind and activate physiological responses. Later, he consulted with a French pharmaceutical company, encouraging them to pursue his concept for an antigestational agent, which became the iconic RU-486 (Mifepristone). For this, he was applauded by many and criticized by others. He died at his home in a suburb of Paris on May 30, 2025, at the age of 98. To his last days, he vigorously maintained his support for women's reproductive rights.