RU-486

RU-486
RU-486 [är΄yo͞o′fôr΄āt΄ē siks′]
n.
< R(oussel) U(CLAF), the manufacturer
a steroid drug, C29H35NO2, used orally primarily to terminate pregnancy at the earliest stage by blocking the reception of progesterone: also written RU486 or RU 486

* * *

Common name for mifepristone, a drug used in the first several weeks of pregnancy for inducing abortion.

RU-486 blocks the receptors for progesterone, a hormone necessary for the maintenance of pregnancy. The drug causes the breakdown of the uterine lining, which, along with the embryo, is shed through the vagina. It has been available in France for the termination of early pregnancy since 1988 and was approved for use in the U.S. in 2000. The name RU-486 is derived from the manufacturer Roussel-Uclaf and a serial number.

* * *

drug
      first trade name for mifepristone, a synthetic steroid drug prescribed for inducing abortion during the early weeks of pregnancy. The name is derived from an abbreviation for the pharmaceutical company Roussel-Uclaf plus a serial number. RU-486 was approved for use in France in 1988, and almost immediately it became the object of ardent opposition by right-to-life groups and equally ardent advocacy by abortion-rights groups. Both sides understood that the “abortion pill,” as RU-486 was quickly dubbed, would change the dynamics of abortion, making it possible for women to terminate early pregnancies with relative ease and privacy, few medical complications, and in most cases no need for intrusive surgical procedures. In 1995 executives of Roussel-Uclaf formed the company Exelgyn, which was awarded patent rights to the drug. It was approved for use in the United Kingdom in 1991 and Germany in 1999 under the trade name Mifegyne and in the United States in 2000 under the trade name Mifeprex. See also mifepristone.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу

Look at other dictionaries:

  • 486 av. J.-C. — 486 Années : 489 488 487   486  485 484 483 Décennies : 510 500 490   480  470 460 450 Siècles : VIe siècle …   Wikipédia en Français

  • 486 (number) — 486 (four hundred and eighty six) is the natural number following 485 and preceding 487.486 may refer to a year: * 486 BC * 486 * 1486486 may also refer to: * Intel 80486, a computer processor * 4 8 6, a proposed locomotive type * RU 486, the… …   Wikipedia

  • (486) cremona — 486 Cremona pas de photo Caractéristiques orbitales Époque 18 août 2005 (JJ 2453600.5) Demi grand axe 351,830 Gm (2,352 ua) Aphélie …   Wikipédia en Français

  • 486 Cremona — (486) Cremona 486 Cremona pas de photo Caractéristiques orbitales Époque 18 août 2005 (JJ 2453600.5) Demi grand axe 351,830 Gm (2,352 ua) Aphélie …   Wikipédia en Français

  • 486 Cremona — is a minor planet orbiting the Sun …   Wikipedia

  • (486) Cremona — Descubrimiento Descubridor Luigi Carnera Fecha 11 de mayo, 1902 Nombre Provisional 1902 JB …   Wikipedia Español

  • 486 (трасса, Финляндия) — 486 486  автомобильная трасса в провинции Тохмаярви, Финляндия. Протяжённость  33 км. Она связывает Пухос с Китее и Тохмаярви. Часто используется для сокращения пути от российско финской границы (КПП «Вяртсиля Ниирала») к югу Финляндии …   Википедия

  • 486 — 486,   ein Prozessor von Intel, der auch als 80486 Prozessor bezeichnet wird …   Universal-Lexikon

  • 486 — Cette page concerne l année 486 du calendrier julien. Pour l année 486, voir 486. Pour le nombre 486, voir 486 (nombre). Pour les autres significations, voir 486 (homonymie) Années : 483 484 485  486  487 488 489 …   Wikipédia en Français

  • 486 год до н. э. — Годы 490 до н. э. · 489 до н. э. · 488 до н. э. · 487 до н. э. 486 до н. э. 485 до н. э. · 484 до н. э. · 483 до н. э. · 482 до н. э. Десятилетия 500 е… …   Википедия

  • 486 год — Запрос «486» перенаправляется сюда; о микропроцессоре см. Intel 80486. Годы 482 · 483 · 484 · 485 486 487 · 488 · 489 · 490 Десятилетия 460 е · 470 е 480 е …   Википедия

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”