RAD - FDA approval of abortion pill mifepristone questioned by federal judge - WaPo

2023-03-15 15:00:52 ET

• A federal judge who could alter access to the abortion pill mifepristone appeared to indicate he may have concerns with the way the US FDA handled the approval of the medication.
• The Washington Post reported that at a Wednesday hearing, U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk pressed lawyers for the Justice Department on what he considered an accelerated approval for mifepristone. The drug, which was approved in 2000, took four years to win approval.
• The plaintiff in the trial is a legal group representing antiabortion organizations and several doctors. The group's attorneys argue that the FDA has OKd an "unsafe drug regimen" without appropriate evaluation, while also disagreeing with steps to make it easier to get the drug.
• Large pharmacy chains, including CVS Health ( NYSE: CVS ), Walgreens Boots Alliance ( NASDAQ: WBA ), and Rite Aid ( NYSE: RAD ) have faced pressure from many state attorneys general who want to block access to the drug and other politicians who want to make sure it will remain available .
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