FDA
Delays Morning After Pill
U.S.
regulators have delayed a decision on whether to approve over-the-counter
sales of a Barr Pharmaceuticals "morning-after pill" to prevent
pregnancy, prompting a lawsuit from a women's rights group.
Barr said
it was optimistic the Food and Drug Administration ultimately
would grant its request to sell the product, called Plan B, without
a prescription to women and girls age 16 and older. The FDA said
it would complete its review "in the near future," according to
a statement from Barr. Plan B, sold now only by prescription,
is an emergency contraceptive that may prevent pregnancy if taken
within 72 hours after sexual intercourse.
The FDA is
under political pressure from advocates and opponents of expanding
access to Plan B. Women's groups argue it would reduce abortions,
while some conservatives say it would lead to more promiscuity
and sexually transmitted diseases, especially among teenagers,"
despite studies that show it has no impact on women's sexual behavior.
Plan B is
different from RU-486, a pill that causes an abortion early in
pregnancy. RU-486 also is known as Mifeprex or mifepristone.
The
Holistic Wisdom Corporation