Perrigo Company plc announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved 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 United States.
“Today marks a truly momentous day for women’s health nationwide,” said Perrigo President and Chief Executive Officer Patrick Lockwood-Taylor. “Opill® has the potential to radically transform women’s access to contraception and is a true testament of Perrigo’s unwavering commitment to deliver impactful solutions that truly make lives better.”
Nearly 50 years of use and scientific evidence demonstrate that progestin-only pills such as Opill® are effective at preventing pregnancy and are safe for most women to use. OTC oral contraception has support from major medical organizations including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the American Medical Association, the Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine and the American Academy of Family Physicians.
“Today’s approval is a groundbreaking expansion for women’s health in the U.S., and a significant milestone towards addressing a key unmet need for contraceptive access,” said Frederique Welgryn, Perrigo Global Vice President for Women’s Health. “Perrigo is committed to making Opill®, which is now the most effective method available OTC at preventing pregnancy(1), accessible and affordable to women and people of all ages. I want to thank the FDA and its advisory panels, the Free The Pill coalition, the numerous medical organizations and advocacy groups, and all those who wholeheartedly supported this enormous undertaking that has made today a giant leap for women’s empowerment.”
Of the 6 million pregnancies in the U.S. each year, 45% are unintended. 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. Removing the prescription requirement for Opill® improves access to a contraceptive method that is effective and well tolerated for all ages of women and people who can get pregnant.
In May 2023, 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.
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. For more information, please visit www.opill.com.
