New abortion pill rules in the US could be about to be proposed

United States Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has launched an investigation into a popular abortion pill.

He's called for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to review evidence about the safety and efficacy of the mifepristone pill, which is used in two-thirds of abortions across America.

According to ABC News, abortion rights advocates have claimed this move could lead to significant restrictions on medicinal abortions - the most common method in the US.

This week, Kennedy Jr. and FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary wrote a letter to 22 Republican attorneys general who requested the FDA review.

As per the publication, the FDA is set to conduct 'its own review of the evidence, including real-world outcomes and evidence, relating to the safety and efficacy of the drug'.

The letter read: "The concerns you have raised in your letter merit close examination. This Administration will ensure that women's health is properly protected by thoroughly investigating the circumstances under which mifepristone can be safely dispensed."

There could be restrictions on abortion pills going forward, depending on the findings of an FDA review (Getty Stock Image)

What is Mifepristone?

Mifepreistone is a drug that blocks the hormone progesterone, which is needed for a pregnancy to continue.

When used together with another medicine called misoprostol, the drug is used to end a normal pregnancy up to ten weeks gestation (70 days or less since the first day of the last menstrual period), the FDA outlines.

The FDA first approved the drug in September 2000 for medical termination of pregnancy through seven weeks gestation, and this was extended to ten weeks gestation in 2016.

It was approved 'based on a thorough and comprehensive review of the scientific evidence presented and determined that it was safe and effective for its indicated use'.

The medicine is only available when prescribed by a doctor and is under a restricted distribution program called Mifepristone REMS (Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy) Program.

The drug is used for two-thirds of abortions in America (Getty Stock Image)

One of the key studies cited by Republicans who asked for the review found that almost 11 percent of women experienced a 'serious adverse event,' which is higher than the 0.5 percent rate found in clinical studies and outlined by the FDA on the medication label.

However, the study was reportedly not peer-reviewed and was published by the Ethics and Public Policy Center on its website, not in a scientific journal.

Reacting to the news of the review on Wednesday, as per ABC News, Danika Severino Wynn, vice president of care and access at Planned Parenthood Federation of America said in a statement: "For 25 years, mifepristone has been used safely and effectively by patients across the country.

The review has sparked concern from reproductive health care providers (Getty Stock Image)

"Recent innovations like telehealth have expanded access to people who would otherwise be unable to get abortion care - and the difference that has made in the reproductive lives and futures of Planned Parenthood patients is undeniable."

Meanwhile, Kiki Freedman, co-founder and CEO of Hey Jane, the largest telemedicine abortion provider in the US, also gave a statement to the news channel.

She said that the new review could 'undermine access to one of the most thoroughly studied and widely used medications in the country'.

"HHS Secretary RFK Jr and FDA Commissioner Marty Makary's threat to conduct their own 'review' of mifepristone underscores the disturbing rise of junk science and politically motivated attacks in shaping public health policy," the co-founder added.