Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Zenger
Zenger
Health
Vandana Singh

Perrigo’s Opill Becomes First Over-the-Counter Birth Control Pill In U.S.

A sign for the Food And Drug Administration is seen outside the headquarters on July 20, 2020, in White Oak, Maryland.FDA- recently approved Opill, a progestin-only daily oral contraceptive for over-the-counter (OTC) use for all ages. SARAH SILBIGER/GETTY IMAGES. 

Perrigo Company plc shares are trading higher after the FDA approved the company’s Opill, a progestin-only daily oral contraceptive for over-the-counter (OTC) use for all ages. 

Opill is the first-ever birth control pill available over the counter in the U.S.

“After nearly 50 years of use and scientific evidence demonstrate that progestin-only pills such as Opill are effective at preventing pregnancy and safe for most women,” said the company.

In May, the FDA’s Nonprescription Drugs Advisory Committee (NDAC) and the Obstetrics, Reproductive, and Urologic Drugs Advisory Committee (ORUDAC) voted unanimously 17 to 0, with no abstentions, that the benefits of making Opill available for OTC use outweigh the risks.

Various dietary supplements are on a shelf in a pharmacy.  FDA approved a progestin-only daily oral contraceptive for over-the-counter (OTC) use for all ages in the U.S.A.MONIKA SKOLIMOWSKA/PICTURE ALLIANCE VIA GETTY IMAGES.

In May, the FDA released briefing documents citing concerns that the safety and effectiveness of such pills would be contingent on how consumers can appropriately use them.

“Opill carries important risks, particularly in those with a history or risk of breast cancer or other progestin-sensitive cancers, vaginal bleeding of undiagnosed etiology. Opill can also interact with other medications,” said the FDA.

Opill, which consists of 0.075 mg norgestrel, will be available in-store and online at leading retailers across the U.S. early in the first quarter of 2024. 

Price Action: PRGO shares are up 2.05% at $33.76 on the last check on Thursday.

© 2023 Zenger News.com. Zenger News does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

Produced in association with Benzinga

Edited by Judy J. Rotich and Newsdesk Manager

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.