FDA mulls selling pill over-the-counter
But in an initial review posted Friday, May 5, 2023, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) raised numerous concerns about drugmaker Perrigo’s application to sell its decades-old pill over the counter.
The FDA cited problems with the reliability of some of the company’s data on the drug, Opill, and questioned whether women with certain other medical conditions would correctly opt out of taking it. The agency also noted signs that study participants had trouble understanding the labeling instructions.
Advisers to the FDA meet next week to review drugmaker Perrigo’s application. The two-day public meeting is one of the last steps before a final FDA decision.
If the agency grants the company’s request, Opill would become the first contraceptive pill to be moved out from behind the pharmacy counter onto store shelves or online.
Friday’s FDA review suggests regulators have serious reservations about broad access to the drug, including whether younger teenagers will be able to correctly follow the labeling directions.
At the end of the meeting, the FDA panel will vote on whether the benefits of making the pill more widely available outweigh the potential risks. The panel vote is not binding and the FDA is expected to make its final decision this summer.