The FDA announced approval of a new type of morning-after contraceptive, Ella from HRA Pharma. This medication is a prescription-only birth control approach that is said to reduce the chance of pregnancy up to five days after sex. The Los Angeles Times (8/14, Maugh II) "Booster Shots" blog said that the drug, "known generically as ulipristal acetate, is thought to inhibit or delay ovulation by interfering with the effects of the female hormone progesterone, which stimulates ovulation. ... Women with a known or suspected pregnancy or who are breastfeeding should not use the drug." The Washington Post (8/14, Stein) said that Ella "can cut the chances of becoming pregnant by about two-thirds for at least 120 hours after a contraceptive failure or unprotected sex, studies have shown." Supporters and opponents both said the FDA's decision "marked the clearest evidence of a shift in the influence of political ideology at the FDA. ... If the history of Plan B is any indication, Ella's approval is likely to mark the beginning of many years of political and regulatory battles over the drug." This story was also covered by the New York Times (8/14, A1, Harris), The Wall Street Journal (8/14, Mathews, Dooren), Bloomberg News (8/14, Waters, Peterson), AFP (8/16), and MedPage Today (8/13, Gever).
