"Groundbreaking" and "momentous" are two words Perrigo leaders used describing the Food and Drug Administration's approval of its Opill. It's the first over-the-counter birth control pill available for use for women of all ages.
The pill was approved by the FDA in 1973, requiring a physician's prescription.
In May, the FDA's Joint Advisory committee voted unanimously that an over-the-counter version's benefits outweigh its risks.
Dr. Patrizia Cavazzoni, director of the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, said, "When used as directed, daily oral contraception is safe and is expected to be more effective than currently available nonprescription contraceptive methods in preventing unintended pregnancy."
The FDA reports there are 6.1 million pregnancies in the United States each year, with nearly half unintended.
Perrigo, a leading provider of Consumer Self-Care products, says the Opill improves access to a contraception, citing "nearly one-third of adult U.S. women who have ever tried to obtain a prescription or refill for a contraceptive pill, patch, or ring reported difficulties doing so."
Opill will be stocked on pharmacy aisle shelves in 2024.