FDA advisers back 5-day "morning after" pill

[discocrisco01]

Source: Reuters

Maryland (Reuters) - A new, longer-lasting emergency contraceptive pill moved closer to the U.S. market on Thursday after U.S. medical advisers unanimously backed the one-dose drug as a safe and effective option to prevent an unplanned pregnancy.


Data for the drug, made by the French drugmaker HRA Pharma but to be sold by Watson Pharmaceuticals Inc in the United States, was compelling, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's advisory panel said.

A type of so-called "morning after" pill, the companies hope to market the prescription drug to teenagers and adult women under the brand name ella, saying their product works two days longer than the currently-available option.

Although emergency contraception has been marketed to U.S. women for more than a decade, such pills continue to spark debate with conservatives blasting their interference with pregnancy and women's health advocates urging additional family planning options.

Read more at http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE65G5PA20100617

[MountainLaurel]

1. We'll see what comes of it

The FDA science panels also recommended that emergency contraception be made available OTC across the board, and we see how that worked out.