Medical research

Expired medicine still ‘90% effective’ says new French study

An association said the results pointed to ‘a real environmental, economic and health scandal’, but doctors have warned that people should not take expired medicines

France launches health inquiry across the population

The study is starting with a trial and is set to be rolled out nationwide next year

Hope of breakthrough treatment for Parkinson’s from French team

The world first ‘shows unequivocally’ that the disease can be slowed using a medicine related to obesity drug Ozempic, researchers say

news

France to introduce first ever blood test for bipolar disorder

The test, from a French start-up, promises to reduce diagnosis time from around 10 years to a few weeks

France residents in better health than other countries, study shows

The report found that France has particularly improved on life expectancy since 1990

Support for ‘promising’ new saliva test for endometriosis in France

Positive early results could lead to the test being 100% reimbursed for eligible sufferers in future, say health authorities

France approves new treatment against endometrial cancer

The drug Jemperli has been authorised in France before being approved in Europe. This cancer affects around 10,000 women nationwide every year

France extends therapeutic cannabis trials for an extra year

Patients with certain severe illnesses can continue to access cannabis-based medicinal products with a prescription until March 2024

French scientist’s lightbulb moment to use worm blood in transplants

The breakthrough, which came overlooking a beach in Roscoff, improves the success rate of organ transplants

French Levothyrox case forced to open in concert hall

A Lyon court hearing into the ongoing case of controversial thyroid medication Levothyrox has opened in a concert hall after the city’s Palais de Justice proved too small to host the 4,113 plaintiffs present.

French scientists make breakthrough cancer treatment discovery

The team based in Toulouse has confirmed a fundamental way that the body’s immune system can help to fight cancer tumours more effectively, in what has been dubbed ‘a turning point’

France looks to offer routine lung cancer screening to at-risk groups

Health authorities have welcomed the idea of a pilot scheme with one lung specialist calling it an ‘historic’ health decision. The cancer kills 33,000 people per year in France

European medicines regulator approves two new Covid treatments

Ronapreve and Regkirona are monoclonal antibody medicines that can be used to treat infected patients who do not yet require oxygen but who are at increased risk from the virus

Promising results in trials of French Covid nasal spray vaccine

The spray could be used as a needle-free booster to cut the spread of the virus in future months

Covid France: 6% positive tests are from fully vaccinated people

A new study shows that vaccinated people who catch the virus are less likely to pass it on to others. French authorities have reiterated that no vaccine provides 100% protectioo

French medics want obligatory Covid jabs for key workers and students

Obligatory vaccination, starting with front-line workers and at-risk people, is the only way to achieve herd immunity and fend off the virus long-term

Covid-19 will recede over summer in France - Institut Pasteur

The research centre has published new projections but says even a best-case scenario does not guarantee the end of the pandemic

President of French anti-cancer league steps down due to cancer

Professor Axel Kahn confirmed his retirement this week, and made a moving statement in which he referred to death as an ‘old friend’

French-UK Covid-19 vaccine could be available by end of 2021

After initial delays, successful trials could mean that French lab Sanofi and British pharma giant GlaxoSmithKline will be ready to take their vaccine to the market by the year-end

AstraZeneca: Two new thrombosis cases in France, of which one fatal

Drug safety agency ANSM reported the new cases in women in their 60s and 70s, after more than 3,855,000 injections of the British-Swedish jab had been administered

Covid-Air: Super-fast Covid test using exhaled air trialled in Lyon

The machine detects chemical traces of Covid in your breath, and is eventually expected to be rolled out in places that need fast mass testing, such as airports and concert halls

French study: Less than six hours sleep at 50+ increases dementia risk

The study used data from across 30 years and found short sleep duration at age 50 - 70 was associated with at least a 30% increased risk

French company launches €100m project to create artificial skin

President Macron has hailed the ‘Holy Grail’ goal of creating artificial skin - to heal burn and injury victims - as ‘innovative’ and ‘a source of pride’

3 new cases of rare thrombosis in France in days after AstraZeneca jab

Health agency releases a list of symptoms to watch for after the vaccine, as the European Medicines Agency says the ‘benefits outweigh the risks’ and no link has yet been proven

Delayed medical cannabis trials begin in France

People with chronic pain, cancer and epilepsy are amongst those able to access medical cannabis through a government trial starting today

Covid France: Why do women report more vaccine side-effects than men?

Cultural, biological, and societal reasons may all be a factor in why up to 79.9% of side-effects reported after vaccines in France are from women

France to offer new treatment for high-risk Covid patients

The new drugs are set to be authorised within days and have been successfully used in the US, including on former President Donald Trump

New Covid UK variant ‘dominant’ in France by March

In a worst-case scenario, the number of weekly hospitalisations could reach 20,000 from mid-February, leading a vaccine expert for France's Haute Autorité de Santé to say reconfinement is a matter of when not if

‘Long Covid’: France considers how to help long-term cases

Many patients who caught Covid-19 months ago are still reporting long-term effects and symptoms. France is now turning its attention to the issue

Covid-19 vaccine in France: Side-effect monitoring increased

France has established a number of rigorous systems to closely monitor any possible side-effects as the Covid-19 vaccines are rolled out

French study finds Covid ‘three times more deadly’ than flu

The study observed 136,000 patients with severe forms of the illnesses, and also found that young people were at heightened risk

France to closely monitor side-effects of Covid-19 vaccine

The system will enable the country to monitor any possible side-effects, as happens with any other vaccine, as the jab is rolled out early next year

Covid vaccine more effective for women, say French experts

The finding by a high-profile professor has been supported by a study with the acclaimed Institut Pasteur

Covid anti-vax sentiment rises above 50% in France

A new poll shows that 59% of the French public ‘do not intend’ to get a Covid jab when it becomes possible, up from 46% a month ago

Centre-left party in France: ‘No vaccine, no reimbursement’

Centre-left party PRG has called for people in France who refuse a Covid vaccine to have their medical reimbursement rights revoked. We discuss

France releases list of 93 dangerous medicines to avoid

An annual list of medicines which are ‘more dangerous than useful’ has been released. People taking them are advised to seek replacements

French specialist: Covid vaccine will not eradicate virus

A high profile French vaccination specialist has predicted that France will begin Covid-19 jabs in early 2021, but explained why the virus will not disappear completely

Covid jabs could start from early 2021 in Europe

Days after Pfizer announced promising results from its trial, the director of the ECDC has said that vaccinations could begin in the first quarter of next year.

French doctors advise vitamin D to counter Covid this winter

Studies show links between vitamin D deficiency and serious forms of Covid-19. Doctors say winter supplements could help.

French doctors say ibuprofen is ‘no risk’ to Covid patients

New studies have led French doctors to say that contrary to announcements in March, ibuprofen offers ‘no risk’ to patients with Covid

France in ‘critical’ Covid-19 second wave amid record cases

The scientific council president issued a warning, as cases of Covid-19 reach record levels and the Grand Est region prepares for a possible second lockdown

€5m grant given to Lille ‘miracle molecule’ Covid trial

The grant will allow trials to continue on the “miracle drug”, whose name has been “neither confirmed nor denied”.

20,000 volunteer for Covid-19 vaccine trials in France

The volunteer campaign by Inserm has been hailed as a success one week after it launched with trials expected to begin before the end of the year as cases of Covid-19 continue to rise.

‘Miracle molecule’ effective against Covid found in Lille

A “miracle molecule” that appears to be effective against the virus that causes Covid-19, with almost no side effects, has been discovered at the Institut Pasteur in Lille.

French neurologist hopeful on early Alzheimer’s diagnosis

A prominent French neurology professor has suggested that a network of “memory centres”, and a new smartphone app, could help with ongoing “hopeful” research into early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease.

French Covid test with 30 minute result time approved

A new Covid-19 test that takes just half an hour to return results and is 96% accurate has been authorised to be rolled out at a hospital in France, at a time when laboratories are reporting severe test result backlogs.

French scientists review Covid-19 saliva testing

PCR saliva tests are already being used in the US, but are not currently available in France where their reliability is still being studied by scientists.

French expert: Covid-19 jab possible before end of year

A vaccine against Covid-19 could be available in France "by the end of the year", a research director at research centre Inserm has said, with development going "much faster than anticipated".

French expert: UK vaccine ‘hopeful’ but unlikely before 2021

A medical research expert in France has said that despite the recently-announced successes of British and Chinese Covid-19 vaccination trials, a safe vaccine is still unlikely to be available before at least 2021.

One in three French people ‘would not get Covid vaccination’

One in three people in France would refuse to have the coronavirus vaccine even when one becomes available, a new poll has found, in line with the general view that the French are often sceptical of vaccines.

Latest data: France alert to possible second Covid-19 wave

Health authorities in France have repeatedly warned of a“second wave” of the Covid-19 epidemic, and the health minister has described the current virus spread as “worrying”. We look at what the latest data shows.

Controversial prof lambasts French Covid-19 strategy

Infectious disease specialist Didier Raoult criticised the French government and its advisory body le Conseil Scientifique for their handling of the Covid-19 crisis, specifically the lack of Covid-19 tests done in France.

Controversial French prof: ‘I could have halved Covid death’

Controversial French infectious diseases specialist, Professor Didier Raoult, has said that “if people had listened to me, we would have had half the number of deaths from coronavirus”, in a new interview.

France experts: Covid second wave may be ‘bigger than first’

France’s top scientific advisors have repeated their prediction that a second wave of Covid-19 in France is “extremely likely” in autumn and winter this year, and even warned it “could be bigger than the first”.

Paracetamol to be made in France post Covid-19

Following the Covid-19 crisis, France plans to produce more medicines nationally, starting with paracetamol, which French consumers stockpiled at the beginning of lockdown.

WHO halts trials of controversial drug hydroxychloroquine

Medical trials of the drug hydroxychloroquine in Covid-19 patients - a version of which has been widely championed by French Professor Didier Raoult - have been stopped by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

New French study on Covid-19 drug ‘provides hope’

A French study on a drug named “anakinra” has shown “encouraging results” and “provides hope” in treating patients with severe forms of Covid-19.

Covid affects far more Brittany residents than thought

The coronavirus that causes Covid-19 has affected up to 10% of residents in Morbihan, Brittany, northwest France - a much higher percentage of people than previously thought - a new blood test study has found.

New blood test by French lab detects Covid-19 immunity

A French laboratory is developing a blood test that can determine exactly how immune a person is to the virus SARS-CoV-2 - which causes Covid-19 - and has hailed it “a precious tool to help with deconfinement”.

Macron dubs French chloroquine medic ‘great scientist’

French President Emmanuel Macron has dubbed Professor Didier Raoult, pioneer of using chloroquine against Covid-19, a “great scientist” - as Pr. Raoult controversially claims the epidemic is slowing in Marseille.

Early trials on Covid-19 drugs 'promising'

Research continues worldwide into a possible vaccination against Covid-19

France widens Covid-19 drug tests amid vaccine search

The French government has authorised more trials of a drug that could help heal Covid-19, as early tests in France were deemed “promising”, and research continues worldwide into a possible vaccination.

Second case of native dengue confirmed in France

Another case of native dengue fever has been confirmed in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, just one month after the first ever case was reported.

France medication shortage crisis prompts PM meeting

Concerns are growing over a lack of certain medications in France, with some patients struggling to get their prescriptions, and the Prime Minister calling a meeting in Paris in an attempt to solve the issue.

Homeopathy no longer reimbursed in France from 2021

Homeopathic medicine will no longer be reimbursed by the French State from January 1 2021, the health minister has confirmed, after months of national debate on the issue.

France sets out key healthcare reforms for 2022 law

New rules on training, hospital locations, and video health consultations are some of the key proposals put forward in a new healthcare law announced today (February 13) by French health minister Agnès Buzyn.

France releases €40m to fight antibiotic resistance

The French government has released €40 million to help fund research into new antibiotics, as antibiotic resistance in France rises up the medical agenda.

French ethics report: All women should have IVF access

The French national ethics committee has reiterated its stance in favour of extending medically-assisted reproduction to all women, including lesbians, and lifting anonymity of sperm donors in some cases.

Half of all blood donor machines in France suspended

Half of all machines used to collect blood donations in France have been pulled from service amid fears that they could be dangerous for donors.

French senator calls for new inquiry into Levothyrox

A French senator has called for a new inquiry into the ongoing Levothyrox thyroid medication scandal to get “a real view of the situation”.

Lille stops homeopathy course amid French health row

The Lille Faculty of Medicine is suspending its diploma in homeopathy for the academic year 2018-19 amid a national row over the efficacy of so-called “alternative medicines”.

Dogs detect diabetes and help families

Dogs are being tested by three families in a pioneering move in France to help young people know if they are at risk from a diabetic attack as the dogs can smell blood sugar levels.

Home HIV test gives a result in 10 minutes

An Alsace laboratory has launched a self-test HIV kit that costs just €10 at a pharmacy, a third of the cost of many other tests.