Judge revokes FDA approval of abortion drug after 23 years

Austin, Texas. — A federal judge in Texas ruled on Friday to stop the use of the abortion drug mifepristone, approved by regulators 23 years ago and now one of the most popular abortion methods in the country. .

US District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk has ruled to suspend FDA approval of mifepristone. The verdict has him on hold for seven days, so the federal government may appeal.

Kacsmaryk, Trump’s appointee, held a hearing on the issue in Amarillo, Texas, on March 15, and conservative plaintiffs in the case said the Food and Drug Administration was wrong to approve mifepristone. claimed to be.

Meanwhile, a Washington state judge on Friday issued an injunction to stop a duel in a separate case regarding mifepristone’s FDA approval status.

Judge Thomas Rice of the Eastern United States District Court in Washington, in his ruling, granted the preliminary injunction sought by the plaintiffs, composed of Democratic attorneys general, noting that the FDA is “currently involved in the availability of mifepristone”. and change rights.”

As of 2020, nearly half of all abortions in the United States were medical abortions, according to data collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Such methods usually rely on mifepristone in her two-drug regimen along with misoprostol.

Erik Baptist, senior attorney for Alliance Defending Freedom, the group that filed the Texas lawsuit, said the judge would have to check the FDA after the hearing in March. Most doctors disagree.

“The FDA did not have the authority to approve these drugs and remove important safeguards,” Baptist said.

A government attorney representing the FDA said at the hearing that the government had reviewed extensive data and found no such safety concerns.

Justice Department attorney Julie Strauss Harris said that “the public interest would be dramatically harmed” by taking the side of the plaintiffs, and Baptiste told the judge, “Relief must be complete and national.” must.

Outside, pro-abortion supporters were outspoken. “There are many reasons why this court would have to unilaterally dismiss[the case],” said Carrie Flaxman, senior director of public policy litigation and law at the National Planned Parenthood Federation.

An appeal is likely.