Pharmaceutical company wants to offer first over-the-counter contraceptive pill
Dhe pharmaceutical company HRA Pharma wants to bring the first over-the-counter contraceptive pill to the United States to offer. The French company filed an application with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Monday to allow its estrogen-free minipill Opill to be sold without a prescription. HRA Pharma Manager Frédérique Welgryn spoke of a “historic application”. Offering a safe and effective contraceptive pill over the counter will give more women access to contraception “without unnecessary hurdles.”
The motion came just weeks after the US Supreme Court abolished the nation’s fundamental right to abortion. The Supreme Court’s highly controversial decision has also prompted consideration of how to improve access to contraceptives to prevent unwanted pregnancies.
Prescription required in Germany
However, a spokeswoman for HRA Pharma said the closeness in time between the Supreme Court decision and the request for an over-the-counter pill was “coincidental”. The company began collecting scientific studies for the application seven years ago.
Many countries such as Brazil, Greece, Mexico and Portugal already exist contraceptive pills without recipe. In many other countries – including Germany – on the other hand, a prescription from a doctor is required.
