Doliprane: France wants to relocate the production of paracetamol

The health crisis has exposed many economic, ecological, political and societal problems around the world. In France, one of the most pointed out failures was that of the production of drugs. As China and surrounding countries closed their borders, public opinion learned with concern, thanks to a press release issued by the Academy of Medicine, that “80% of active pharmaceutical ingredients [les molécules qui confèrent au médicament ses propriétés thérapeutiques ou préventives, NDLR] used in Europe are manufactured outside the European Economic Area, a large part of which is in Asia”. This is why today Emmanuel Macron calls for the relocation of certain drugs. Among them, paracetamol, the active ingredient of Doliprane, announced the Ministries of Economy and Health on Thursday June 18.

Doliprane is the most consumed drug in France. At the start of confinement, many people being afraid of developing Covid flu syndromes, the population rushed to this drug recommended for the treatment of fever and pain. Especially since Ibuprofen was strongly discouraged by health authorities so as not to aggravate inflammation in Covid patients.

Also, in order to anticipate a new health crisis and a possible shortage, France now wants to control the entire paracetamol production chain on its soil within three years. “Work is thus underway with Seqens, Upsa and Sanofi so that, within three years, France will be able to reproduce, package and distribute paracetamol, as the President of the Republic wished last Tuesday“declare a communicated spouse of the Secretary of State at the Ministry of the Economy, Agnès Pannier-Runacher, and the Minister of Health, Olivier Véran.

“Relocation is the first axis to regain our sovereignty”

On this basis of the submission of Senator Biot’s report finalized in February 2020“the Sector Strategy Committee (CSF) will draw up an action plan based on the identification of industrial projects that could be relocated, taking into account their socio-economic feasibility, environmental and social externalities, as well as eligibility criteria for national and European support measures (…) The ‘day after’ must be that of regained independence and autonomy in the production of essential goods. No one can conceive that France will one day be unable to provide everyone with access to care, treatment and medicines”continues Oliver Véran.

Tuesday June 17, after visiting a Sanofi factory in Marcy-l’Etoile in the Rhône, Emmanuel Macron announced: “From Thursday, we will launch an initiative to relocate certain critical productions., such as paracetamol, the most prescribed drug in France and currently manufactured entirely in China and India and, to a lesser extent in Brazil. “We can now produce and package paracetamol in France”had therefore declared the President of the Republic, specifying: “Relocation is the first axis to regain our sovereignty.”

These relocations will be accompanied by a “planning mechanism” for French drug production and a “health resilience” policy supported by an investment of 200 million euros. The latter will aim to adapt and extend the production infrastructure. “In the years to come, in the decades to come, other health crises are to be expected”, warned the Head of State.

The 35 basic molecules in oncology are produced in the East by three manufacturers

At the end of February, a few weeks before the start of confinement, the Academy of Medicine was alarmed by the lack of independence of France in the manufacture of its drugs. Indeed, the thirty-five basic molecules in oncology are produced in the East, especially in China, by three manufacturers. “Due to the multiplicity of links in the production chain, all it takes is a natural or health disaster, a geopolitical event, an industrial accident, to cause disruptions in supply that can lead to depriving patients of their treatments”therefore recalled the Academy of Pharmacy, insisting on the fact that the health crisis coming from China “pcould pose a serious threat to public health in France and Europe”.

At the European level, the Health Ministers of the European Union had meanwhile announced that they wanted “strengthen the existing coordination” in order to “improve efficiency” national measures. “We need to go further, to coordinate on barrier measures, the arrival of travelers, the epidemiological analysis of cases, protective stocks”then explained the former French Minister of Health Agnès Buzyn.