| ■ Year-Round Birth Control Pill Approval Withheld | 06.06.30 |
| The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has delayed approval of a new birth control pill that prevents users from menstruating at all, the Associated Press reported Wednesday. The FDA had already extended the review period for Lybrel, and manufacturer Wyeth Pharmaceuticals told the wire service that it hoped the contraceptive would have been approved Tuesday. But the FDA asked for an additional delay, saying it wanted more clinical trial data on the pill's shelf live, pregnancy rates, and trial dropout rates, the AP reported. The pill is designed to prevent menstruation, but only if used 365 days a year without interruption. Clinical trials suggested the pill was 98 percent effective in preventing pregnancy, although some users had problems with bleeding or spotting, Wyeth told the wire service. Yahoo, HealthDay |