Abortion foes keep lid on pill // Politics stalls U.S. trial: developer

Political pressure from abortion opponents, rather thanscientific concern, is keeping the controversial abortion pill RU-486out of the United States, the pill's French developer contends.

"Because of the abortion issue, there are no large-scale trialsin the United States, and nothing has been presented to the U.S. Foodand Drug Administration," Dr. Etienne-Emile Baulieu, the Frenchscientist who developed the drug, said in a phone interview.

The researcher will address an invitation-only forum hereWednesday at the Hyatt Regency Chicago, sponsored by the Women'sIssues Network. He will speak Thursday to a congressionalsubcommittee in Washington, D.C.

RU-486 …