U.S. FDA Initiates Safety Review of Abortion Pill Mifepristone

The Food and Drug Administration announced a six‑month review of the safety of mifepristone, the medication commonly called the abortion pill. The study will examine medical records of women who have used the drug since its approval for distribution via telehealth and mail under the Biden administration. Critics cite severe side effects such as hemorrhage, infection, and ectopic pregnancy, while supporters point to decades of data indicating safety and effectiveness.

The review, backed by the White House, follows legal challenges in Louisiana that dispute the telemedicine distribution rules. The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the state's claim, but the Supreme Court stayed the ruling, allowing the current distribution model to continue while the case proceeds. Initial findings from the FDA study could be released as early as this summer.