The Supreme Court is set to hear a significant case regarding mifepristone, a commonly used abortion pill. This marks the court’s first abortion-related case since overturning Roe v. Wade. The Biden administration and Danco, the manufacturer of Mifeprex (branded mifepristone), are appealing a ruling that could restrict access to the drug, even in states where abortion is legal.
The case, to be argued in the spring with a decision expected by late June, will focus on changes made after 2016 that eased access to mifepristone. These changes include mail-order access and extending its use from seven to ten weeks of pregnancy. However, the court rejected a separate appeal challenging the FDA’s initial approval of mifepristone in 2000.
Mifepristone, used in over half of all abortions in the U.S., was first approved in 2000. The drug is part of a two-pill regimen for medication abortions and is also used to manage miscarriages. The case’s outcome could have broader implications for the FDA’s authority and the biopharma industry.
The Biden administration defends the FDA’s approval and updates to mifepristone’s use, emphasizing its safety and effectiveness. The Alliance Defending Freedom, representing anti-abortion providers, argues that the FDA’s early and recent decisions on mifepristone are interconnected, urging a review of the drug’s entire approval history.
This case emerges amid a contentious political climate, with potential impacts on the 2024 presidential and congressional campaigns.
Primary Sources: The Hill Rating, Associated Press Rating
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