FDA Approves New Generic Version of Abortion Pill Mifepristone

Federal regulators have authorized another generic form of the abortion medication mifepristone, a decision that has quickly sparked criticism from anti-abortion advocates and politicians associated with the Trump administration.

Evita Solutions Launches Low-Cost Mifepristone

Evita Solutions, a pharmaceutical company, announced on its website that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved its affordable generic version of mifepristone. This medication is approved for terminating pregnancies up to 10 weeks.

Opposition from Anti-Abortion Groups and Politicians

Students for Life Action, an organization opposing abortion, condemned the FDA’s approval in a statement, labeling it “a stain on the Trump presidency” and calling for the removal of what they describe as the “deep state” within the agency.

Missouri Republican Senator Josh Hawley also voiced his disapproval on social media platform X, expressing a loss of confidence in the FDA’s leadership following the approval.

FDA Responds to Criticism

A spokesperson for the FDA clarified that the agency has very limited discretion when it comes to approving generic drugs and emphasized that the FDA does not endorse any specific product. The agency’s role is to ensure safety and efficacy based on scientific evidence.

Political Pressure Surrounding Mifepristone

The criticism arises amid mounting pressure from abortion opponents directed at top Republican health officials, including Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., to reconsider the safety of mifepristone. The drug was originally approved 25 years ago and has been repeatedly affirmed as safe and effective by FDA scientists.

Last month, Kennedy and FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary sent a letter to Republican attorneys general pledging a comprehensive review of the drug’s safety profile.

FDA’s Recent Political Interventions

Under the leadership of Makary and Kennedy, the FDA has delayed decisions on vaccines and narrowed approval terms for COVID-19 shots this year, a departure from the agency’s traditional reliance on career scientists for such determinations.

History of Mifepristone Approval and Access

The FDA first approved mifepristone in 2000 and has since gradually expanded access to the drug. This latest approval of a generic version continues the trend of increasing availability, despite ongoing political and social debates surrounding abortion rights.