A three-judge panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans will hear arguments Wednesday in a case that could decide the future availability of the abortion pill mifepristone. Attorneys for the FDA and the drug's manufacturer will attempt to convince the panel not to roll back accessibility to the drug, which has been used by millions of women in the U.S. and around the world. The outcome of the case could have a major impact on the availability of the drug and could affect the lives of millions of women.
Posts tagged as “FDA”
The FDA has finalized a new rule that will make it easier for gay and bisexual men to donate blood. The rule will use a set of individual, risk-based questions to reduce the risk of HIV transmission, meaning that most gay and bisexual men in monogamous relationships will no longer need to abstain from sex to donate. The new guidelines are the result of a rigorous scientific process and will take effect in the coming months, helping to ensure a safe and sufficient blood supply.
Two FDA advisory panels have voted unanimously to recommend that a birth control pill, called Opill, become available without a prescription, which would make it the first birth control pill available for over-the-counter sales in the United States. The FDA is not required to follow the recommendation, but the vote is expected to weigh heavily on its final decision, expected in late summer. Advocates argue that over-the-counter access to birth control would make it more accessible and reduce the need for doctor visits.
Key takeaways: The FDA has approved the world’s first vaccine for Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) for adults aged 60 and up, made by GSK. The…
The Supreme Court has granted the Justice Department's request to leave in place the FDA's approval of the widely used abortion pill mifepristone, preserving access to the drug and reinstating steps that make it easier to obtain. This decision is a victory for abortion rights advocates, who argued that the restrictions on the drug were medically unnecessary. The case is expected to be heard by the full 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in the coming months.
A federal judge in West Virginia has denied a request from Republican officials to pause a lawsuit from a maker of mifepristone. U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, a Trump appointee, had failed to disclose two interviews on a Christian radio show where he discussed his extremist views on contraception and gay rights. The case is now pending at the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, and questions have been raised about Kacsmaryk's impartiality and ability to make unbiased rulings.
The CDC has announced that older adults aged 65 and up, as well as those with weakened immune systems, can now receive a second dose of the updated versions of the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna Covid booster shots. The agency has recommended that people wait at least two weeks after their first dose before getting the second dose, and that those immunocompromised should wait at least two months. Vaccination is the best way to protect against the virus, but it is not 100% effective, so people should still take precautions such as wearing a mask and social distancing.
The Supreme Court has granted a temporary extension of access to the abortion pill mifepristone until Friday while they consider a legal challenge to the medication's FDA approval. The lower court ruling had increased the gestational age limit for using the drug and reduced the number of required in-person visits. The Biden administration and drug maker Danco Laboratories have requested the Supreme Court to halt the appeals court ruling. The temporary extension of access to mifepristone will remain in place until Friday at 11:59 p.m.