LAist 89.3 FM – Southern California Public Radio , May 15, 2023, Lindsey Wright
A Birth Control Pill Could Soon Be Available Over The Counter, But It Might Not Be As Accessible As You Think.
The panel of FDA advisers voted unanimously in favor of drugmaker Perrigo’s request to sell its once-a-day medication on store shelves alongside eye drops and allergy pills. The recommendation came at the close of a two-day meeting focused on whether women could safely and effectively take the pill without professional supervision. A final FDA decision is expected this summer. If the agency follows the nonbinding recommendation, Perrigo’s drug, Opill, would become the first contraceptive pill to be moved out from behind the pharmacy counter. The company said sales could begin late this year if OK’d. Today on AirTalk, we discuss the impacts of the move, how it will impact access, what past contraceptive approvals could foreshadow and how to mitigate concerns. Joining the conversation is Dima Qato, associate professor of pharmacy and health policy at USC, and Mara Gandal-Powers, director of birth control access and a senior counsel at the National Women’s Law Center.