Amid the decision of Supreme Court to ban abortion in the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the United States is considering to approve the first-ever over-the-counter (OTC) birth control pill in the country.
Two companies, including US-based Cadence Health, and French company HRA Pharma, have approached US FDA to authorize their abortion pill for OTC-sales in the United States. HRA Pharma has also applied for an Rx-to-OTC switch for Opill, which is a progestin, and only daily birth control pill.
The pill has already approved for use in the United States since 1973, but only with a prescription, and if approved, this will be the first daily birth control pill available OTC in the US.
Frederique Welgryn, chief strategic operations and innovation officer at HRA Pharma, said this historic application marks a groundbreaking moment in the contraceptive access and reproductive equity in the United States. He added that over 60 years ago, prescription birth control pills in the United States empowered women for planning if and when they want to get pregnant.
He said moving a safe and effective prescription birth control pill to OTC will help more women and people access contraception without facing the unnecessary barriers. US FDA is also expected to take around 10 months for making a decision on the application of HRA Pharma.
