ON THE JDD
"Let's finally talk about science." This is what makes sure wait for Olivier Laureau, president of the Pharmaceutical group Servier, the trial that opens Monday before the Paris Criminal Court. Asked by the Sunday Journal , the official said his compassion for the victims of the Mediator but insists that his company, pursued for "aggravated deception, fraud, injury and manslaughter and trading in influence," has "never been able to argue (his arguments".
3,749 patients received an offer of compensation
"We regret this drama," says Olivier Laureau about the drug, held responsible for hundreds of deaths and withdrawn from the market in late 2009. "All employees of the group regret it: the vocation of a large company that has many doctors and researchers among its employees is to discover drugs to save lives. " And to recall that "on September 19, 3,749 patients had received an offer of compensation for a total amount of 17.4 million euros, of which 13.6 million euros already paid."
"We are civilly responsible," continues the group's president. "But during the criminal trial (from Monday, which will last several months, ed ), we will demonstrate that we have not deceived." Judging that "the investigation was carried out", Olivier Laureau and his group filed three priority questions of constitutionality (QPC), including a door on a part of the cases retained by the justice: "We estimate, in the light of jurisprudence, that certain facts are prescribed. "
"The Mediator was not a blockbuster"
On the bottom, "there is no deception, no swindle", says Olivier Laureau. "In view of the elements available to the authorities and Servier laboratories, the withdrawal of the drug before 2009 has not been decided," he said. "In 2005, there were warning signs." The Agency (National Security of the medically, the ANSM, ed) said they were not significant, the risk of toxicity was not We decided to launch a study to evaluate it, which was completed in 2009 and led to the withdrawal of the drug. "
The president of the group notes finally that "the Mediator was not a blockbuster, as they say in the pharmaceutical sector.The last ten years of its marketing, it accounted for just 1.6% of our turnover. "