Etienne-Emile Baulieu, Inventor Of Abortion Pill And Champion Of Women’s Rights, Dies At 98

Etienne-Emile Baulieu, the French scientist who revolutionized reproductive health by developing the abortion pill mifepristone, has died at the age of 98.

He passed away peacefully on Friday at his home in Paris, his wife Simone Harari Baulieu confirmed.

Baulieu, born Etienne Blum in Strasbourg on December 12, 1926, to Jewish parents, joined the French resistance at just 15 before adopting the name Emile Baulieu. A trained doctor and researcher, he became a leading expert in steroid hormones and was encouraged by birth control pioneer Gregory Pincus to delve into the study of sex hormones. His work eventually led to the development of mifepristone, also known as RU-486, in 1982.

The pill offered a non-surgical, accessible method for terminating pregnancies and transformed reproductive healthcare worldwide. Baulieu faced decades of fierce opposition from anti-abortion groups, but he remained steadfast in his advocacy for women’s rights.

“Adversity slides off him like water off a duck’s back,” said his wife in an interview with AFP.

In a tribute, French President Emmanuel Macron hailed Baulieu as “a beacon of courage” and “a progressive mind who enabled women to win their freedom.” He added, “Few French people have changed the world to such an extent.”

Macron also honored Baulieu with France’s highest award in 2023, recalling the scientist’s resilience: “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 speaking out well into his 90s. At 96, he condemned a 2023 ban on the abortion pill in Wyoming as “scandalous.”

Beyond reproductive medicine, Baulieu made significant strides in Alzheimer’s and depression research and discovered the hormone DHEA in 1963, which was later marketed in some anti-aging treatments.

In 1989, he received the prestigious Lasker Prize for his contributions to medical science.

Baulieu also had a deep love for the arts and formed friendships with cultural figures like Andy Warhol. “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 once remarked.

His wife praised his lifelong dedication to science and human dignity: “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.”

Etienne-Emile Baulieu is survived by his wife, three children, eight grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren.