Three French people victims of meningiomas, benign brain tumors , filed a complaint against the Bayer laboratory, which markets the Androcur. This medication is suspected of promoting meningiomas, benign brain tumors.

A first hearing takes place this Wednesday at the Bobigny tribunal de grande instance. The Androcur has been marketed by the Bayer laboratory since 1980. It supposed to be prescribed for women for hyperpilosity phenomena, but also in the event of endometriosis or acne. It was prescribed at 57,000 women in France in 2017. It is also prescribed for men to mitigate the side effects of prostate cancer.

The risk of meningiomas was noted in the medication notice since 2011, but last September, a study published by the ANSM and Health Insurance quantified this risk. It is multiplied by 7, for patients treated for more than 6 months, at 20 in those who have taken treatment for at least 5 years.

15 complaint files in preparation

Emmanuelle, who has taken Androcur for 14 years, can no longer work today. On the MRI of his brain, five white spots appear. The size of a cherry, four meningiomas are still there. And the consequences of the operation too. 

"We have a brain that tires anyway very quickly. I know that I make an effort to speak and be understood, since I had lost the floor after the operation. From time to time, I have headaches that are quite difficult to bear," she explains.

His surgeon is the first to alert him. The Androcur is, according to him, responsible for these tumors.

"I am very angry that we don't say anything because these drugs were given to me by three different gynecology teachers. They have always been renewed and none of these gynecology teachers ever told me about effects, such as these brain tumors," she said. 

With other victims, Emmanuelle has created an association. About fifteen complaint files, including his own, are being made up against the Bayer laboratory.