WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday ruled 7-2 that a commonly used abortion pill could stay on the market pending further legal review, in the process preserving the Food and Drug Administration’s authority to approve and regulate drugs.
The decision, a victory for the Biden administration, puts on hold a Texas district court decision earlier this month that would have forced the drug off the market this week. The case will now head to an appeals court, which will weigh in on whether the pill can remain on the market in the next 26 days.
Dozens of pharmaceutical companies, public policy experts, and industry lobbies also joined the administration in railing against the mifepristone decision. They argued the move would ripple across the drug development space, endangering any approved product that activists find controversial or political, from vaccines to birth control and hormone replacement therapy.
This article is exclusive to STAT+ subscribers
Unlock this article — plus in-depth analysis, newsletters, premium events, and networking platform access.
Already have an account? Log in
Already have an account? Log in
About the Author Reprints
To submit a correction request, please visit our Contact Us page.
STAT encourages you to share your voice. We welcome your commentary, criticism, and expertise on our subscriber-only platform, STAT+ Connect