Self-Regulation in the US Pharmaceutical Market By

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Self-Regulation in the US Pharmaceutical Market By Self-Regulation in the US Pharmaceutical Market by Raymond J. March B.S. A Dissertation In AGRICULTURAL & APPLIED ECONOMICS Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of Texas Tech University in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Adam G. Martin Co-Chair of Committee Conrad P. Lyford Co-Chair of Committee Eduardo Segarra Gilbert Berdine Mark Sheridan Dean of the Graduate School May 2017 Copyright 2017, Raymond J. March Raymond J. March, Texas Tech University, May 2017 Acknowledgements Writing a dissertation on self-regulation in the market for pharmaceuticals has been an eye-opening, challenging, and very fruitful experience in my development as an applied economist. One thing this work has not been, however, is a solo effort. I have received support, criticism, inspiration, and guidance from countless individuals while pursuing this project. Let this be my attempt to acknowledge as many of them as possible. I have to begin by thanking my parents whose love and support provided me an environment to think independently and develop an interest in the workings of the medical industry from a young age. I will always be grateful for the efforts of my undergraduate professors to instill a conviction for using the economic way of thinking to understand the pressing problems of the world around me. Thank you Carrie Kerekes, Brad Hobbs, Nikolai Wenzel, and Dean Stansel for the inspiration, encouragement, and for listening. The Free Market Institute, in addition to funding my graduate studies, provided an incredible intellectual environment. I owe a tremendous thank you to Ben Powell who took a chance on me by offering me a fellowship. Adam Martin always provided much needed feedback and guidance. I could not ask for a better mentor. I am also thankful for all the efforts of Andy Young, Ed Stringham, Robert Murphy, Alex Salter, and Michael Giberson. Jake Syma’s help finding obscure physician data was indispensable. Audrey Reford, Glenn Furton, Edwar Escalante, and Gonzalo Macera never failed to provide assistance and feedback when asked (and sometimes when they weren’t asked). A special thanks, however, is necessary for Charles Long for all he has i Raymond J. March, Texas Tech University, May 2017 done and continues to do for me and the Free Market Institute. The Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics was very supportive of my research efforts. Conrad Lyford and Eduardo Segarra were indispensible in helping me develop my research agenda. As a physician, Gilbert Berdine provided incredibly helpful feedback and insight an economist would not consider. Additional financial and creative support was provided by the Institute for Humane Studies and the Mercatus Center at George Mason University. My experiences with these organizations have been invaluable. There are countless others which deserve a thank you for their encouragement and support. Among them are Dagan Mayfield and Ronnie Rowe, Mark Gring for his academia-guiding advice, Tanner Young for his friendship and insight, and Brittany Blanchard for keeping me from going insane during the process. The rest will have to go unmentioned, but not unappreciated. Lastly, and most importantly, this project would not have been possible without the love, support, and keen eye for bad grammar of my wife Amy. ii Raymond J. March, Texas Tech University, May 2017 Table of Contents Acknowledgments ................................................................................................................... i Table of Contents .................................................................................................................. iii Abstract ................................................................................................................................... v List of Tables ........................................................................................................................ vii List of Figures ...................................................................................................................... viii 1. Introdcution ........................................................................................................................ 1 2. Entrepreneurship in Off-label Drug Prescription: Just what the Doctor Ordered! .......................................................................................................................... 6 2.1. Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 6 2.2. Off-label Prescriptions, Entrepreneurship, and the Market Process ............................... 8 2.3. Aspirin and Cardiovascular Wellbeing ......................................................................... 12 2.4. Sexual-pharmacology and Viagra ................................................................................. 14 2.5. Minoxidil’s “Harmless Side Effect" ............................................................................. 17 2.6. Conclusion .................................................................................................................... 20 3. Skin in the Game: Comparing the Public and Private Regulation of Isotretinoin................................................................................................................... 24 3.1. Introduction .................................................................................................................. 24 3.2. The Economics of Risk-Management Programs ......................................................... 28 3.3. Market Failure and Government Failure in Risk-Management ................................... 30 3.4. Evaluating the Stringency of Risk-Management Programs ......................................... 33 3.4.1. Stringency of the Accutane Pregnancy Prevention Program .......................... 33 3.4.2. Stringency of the System to Manage Accutane Related Terotogencity ......... 34 3.4.3. Stringency of iPLEDGE ................................................................................. 35 3.5. Evaluation of the Effectiveness of the Risk-Management Programs ......................... 38 3.5.1. Effectivness of the Accutane Pregnancy Prevention Program ....................... 39 3.5.2. Effectivness of the System to Manage Accutane Related Teratogenicity ...... 42 3.5.3. Effectivness of iPLEDGE ............................................................................... 44 3.6. Coclusion ................................................................................................................... 50 4. Pharmaceutical Company Payments and Physician Concentration: An Empirical Analysis ...................................................................................................................... 54 4.1. Introduction ............................................................................................................... 54 4.2. Rent-Seeking in the Physician and Pharmaceutical Company Relationships .......... 57 4.2.1 Difficulties Differentiating Rent-seeking and Productive Payments .............. 62 4.3. Data ........................................................................................................................... 63 4.4. Empirical Approach .................................................................................................. 67 iii Raymond J. March, Texas Tech University, May 2017 4.5. Empirical Results ...................................................................................................... 74 4.5.1. Rent-Seeking and Additional Specifications ................................................. 81 4.6. Conclusion ................................................................................................................ 83 5. Conclusion ........................................................................................................................ 86 Bibliography ......................................................................................................................... 90 Appendix ............................................................................................................................. 106 iv Raymond J. March, Texas Tech University, May 2017 Abstract Analysis of healthcare markets, including pharmaceutical markets, from an economics framework frequently engages in efforts to modify governmental regulatory efforts to reach efficient outcomes. Often, the complexity and rapidly changing pharmaceutical market outpaces the regulatory body provided by and state level governments. These dynamics leave portions of the regulatory efforts to produce and deliver pharmaceutical products unexamined. This dissertation redirects the attention to efforts within the pharmaceutical market to provide effective self- regulation. It also compares the relative effectiveness of self-regulation efforts to public regulatory efforts in terms of their abilities to obtain sought health outcomes. The findings in each essay conclude self-regulatory frequently attain sought outcomes more effectively than public alternatives. Essay 1 finds physicians and pharmaceutical companies working as entrepreneurial actors were able to better serve patients by finding effective alternative uses of these drugs. I examine off-label drug prescription from an entrepreneurial framework by examining the development processes of aspirin, Viagra, and minoxidil. In each case, research and treatment conclusions were recognized by the medical
Recommended publications
  • Isotretinoin (Accutane) and Pregnancy
    Isotretinoin (Accutane®) This sheet talks about exposure to isotretinoin in a pregnancy or while breastfeeding. This information should not take the place of medical care and advice from your healthcare provider. What is isotretinoin? Isotretinoin is a prescription medication taken by mouth to treat severe cystic acne that has not responded to other treatments. Isotretinoin is a form of Vitamin A. It has been sold under brand names such as Accutane®, Absorica®, Amnesteem®, Claravis®, Epuris®, Clarus®, Myorisan®, Sotret®, and Zenatane®. How long after a woman stops taking isotretinoin should she wait to become pregnant? How long does isotretinoin stay in the body? It is recommended that a woman wait one month after stopping isotretinoin before trying to become pregnant. Usually, isotretinoin is no longer found in a woman’s blood 4-5 days after the last dose and most of its by-products should be gone within 10 days after the last dose. However, the time it takes isotretinoin to be cleared from the body can be longer in some people, which is why it is recommended to wait at least one month after stopping isotretinoin before trying to become pregnant. Can isotretinoin make it more difficult to get pregnant? Women who are trying to become pregnant should not be taking isotretinoin. There have been reports of irregular menstrual periods in some women taking isotretinoin. There are no reports of problems getting pregnant while taking isotretinoin. I just found out I am pregnant. Should I stop taking isotretinoin? Stop taking the medication right away. As soon as possible, call the healthcare provider who prescribed the isotretinoin and the healthcare provider who will be taking care of you during your pregnancy.
    [Show full text]
  • Patient Introductory Brochure
    206906_Covance-Intro 10/18/07 10:39 AM Page i Effective December 2nd, 2007 The iPLEDGE Program Patient Introductory Brochure The important information you need to know about isotretinoin and the iPLEDGE program before starting treatment WARNING For your health and safety, please read this booklet carefully. Also, be sure you understand what your doctor has told you about isotretinoin before starting treatment. Do not take isotretinoin if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or become pregnant during isotretinoin treatment. Isotretinoin causes severe birth defects (deformed babies), loss of a baby before birth (miscarriage), death of a baby and early (premature) births. There is no accurate means of determining whether an exposed fetus has been affected. IMPORTANT NOTICE Use only isotretinoin products approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. Fill and pick up your isotretinoin prescriptions only at pharmacies that are licensed in the United States and are registered with and activated in the iPLEDGE program. 206906_Covance-Intro 10/5/07 3:57 PM Page 1 Are you thinking about taking isotretinoin (eye-soh-tret-in-OH-in) for acne? Read this brochure to learn more about isotretinoin and the iPLEDGE program. 1 206906_Covance-Intro 10/5/07 3:57 PM Page 2 Isotretinoin treats a type of severe acne called nodular acne. It is used after other treatments, including antibiotics, have not helped. It comes in a capsule you take by mouth. Treatment usually lasts 4 to 5 months. There is a very high chance of birth defects if an unborn baby’s mother takes isotretinoin. The goal of the iPLEDGE program is to prevent pregnancies in females taking isotretinoin and to prevent pregnant females from taking isotretinoin.
    [Show full text]
  • Parents Fear Using Epipen on Their Kids No Mercy for MRSA Hold The
    DRUG NEWS SEVERE FOOD ALLERGIES Parents fear using ACCUTANE AND BIRTH DEFECTS EpiPen on their kids More restrictions announced for acne drug Many parents of children with se- Under a new FDA program, everyone prescribing, taking, selling, or dispensing the vere food allergies are reluctant to acne drug isotretinoin (Accutane) will be required to enroll in a national registry by use the EpiPen autoinjector to ad- the end of the year. The iPLEDGE program is intended to ensure that health care pro- fessionals and patients understand the drug’s serious risks—miscarriage, severe minister epinephrine to their child. birth defects, depression, and suicidal thoughts—and take appropriate precautions, Of 165 parents responding to a writ- including avoiding pregnancy. Notorious for causing birth defects, isotretinoin has ten survey, 45% said they’d feel un- long been under fire by the March of Dimes and other advocacy groups who want comfortable using the EpiPen in an it tightly controlled or taken off the market altogether. emergency. They cited three reasons: Beginning on December 31, all patients, prescribers, pharmacies, and whole- • lack of confidence in their ability salers involved in use, sale, or distribution of isotretinoin must join the registry, to recognize signs and symptoms of which requires that pregnancies linked to isotretinoin be reported. The registry anaphylaxis opened in August to allow patients and health care professionals to become famil- • fear of hurting the child iar with its provisions before year’s end. For more information, go to http://www. • fear that they’d forget how to use ipledgeprogram.com or call 1-866-495-0654.
    [Show full text]
  • Isotretinoin Educational Kit for Male Patients and Female Patients Who Cannot Get Pregnant
    Most Recent Modification: NOVEMBER 2016 The iPLEDGE Program Isotretinoin Educational Kit for Male Patients and Female Patients Who Cannot Get Pregnant The tools you need to help you prepare and plan treatments during the course of isotretinoin treatment WARNING For your health and safety, please read this booklet carefully. Also, be sure you understand what your doctor has told you about isotretinoin before starting treatment. Do not take isotretinoin if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or become pregnant during isotretinoin treatment. Isotretinoin causes severe birth defects (deformed babies), loss of a baby before birth (miscarriage), death of a baby and early (premature) births. There is no accurate means of determining whether an exposed fetus has been affected. IMPORTANT NOTICE Use only isotretinoin products approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. Obtain your isotretinoin prescriptions only from pharmacies that are licensed in the United States and are registered with and activated in the iPLEDGE Program. CAUSES BIRTH DEFECTS DO NOT GET PREGNANT Please see accompanying complete product information, including CONTRAINDICATIONS, 2 WARNINGS, PRECAUTIONS, and ADVERSE REACTIONS. TABLE OF CONTENTS Guide for Male Patients and Female Patients Who Cannot Get Pregnant ........4 iPLEDGE® Program Checklist .........................................................................7 Patient Information/Informed Consent (for all patients) .............................. 11* Safety Information About Isotretinoin ........................................................ 11* Patient Identification Cards ....................................................................... 11* *Located inside back cover pocket. 3 What Is Isotretinoin? Isotretinoin (eye-soh-tret-in-OH-in) is a prescription medication that treats a type of severe acne called nodular acne that other treatments, including antibiotics, have not helped. It comes in a capsule you take by mouth.
    [Show full text]
  • Treating Acne with Isotretinoin
    #5: ISOTRETINOIN FOR ACNE PATIENT PERSPECTIVES INITIATING ISOTRETINOIN & THE iPLEDGE PROGRAM Treating acne with The iPLEDGE Program is a strict, government-required program to prevent females from becoming isotretinoin pregnant while on isotretinoin. All females and males must participate. Note: Your provider must follow Isotretinoin is a retinoid medication that is taken by mouth to treat severe this program and cannot change nodular acne. Typically, it is used once other acne treatments have any of the requirements. not worked, such as oral antibiotics. Usually isotretinoin is taken for 4 to 6 months, although the length of treatment can vary from person to Before starting isotretinoin, your person. While most patient’s acne improves and may even clear with provider will talk to you about the this medication, in 20% of patients acne can come back. This requires safe use of this medication and you additional acne treatment or even a second cycle of isotretinoin. will need to sign consent forms in order to receive treatment. HOW SHOULD I TAKE ISOTRETINOIN? If you fail to keep appointments, you will » Isotretinoin dosing is weight-based and should be taken be unable to get your prescription filled. exactly as prescribed. FOR MALE PATIENTS AND WOMEN » If you miss a dose, skip that dose. Do not take two doses at OF NON-CHILDBEARING AGE: There the same time. is no waiting period. Once laboratory » Take with food to help with absorption. tests are done, treatment can start. Prescriptions must be filled within 30 » All instructions in the iPLEDGE program packet days of being sent by the physician.
    [Show full text]
  • Guide to Isotretinoin for Female Patients Who Can Get Pregnant the Importance of Avoiding Pregnancy on Isotretinoin
    Most Recent Modification: JUNE 2016 The iPLEDGE Program Guide to Isotretinoin For Female Patients Who Can Get Pregnant The Importance of Avoiding Pregnancy on Isotretinoin The tools you need to help you prepare, plan treatments, and prevent pregnancies during the course of isotretinoin treatment – Patient ID Cards and Informed Consent forms located inside back cover pocket WARNING For your health and safety, please read this booklet carefully. Also, be sure you understand what your doctor has told you about isotretinoin before starting treatment. Do not take isotretinoin if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or become pregnant during isotretinoin treatment. Isotretinoin causes severe birth defects (deformed babies), loss of a baby before birth (miscarriage), death of a baby and early (premature) births. There is no accurate means of determining whether an exposed fetus has been affected. IMPORTANT NOTICE Use only isotretinoin products approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. Obtain your isotretinoin prescriptions only from pharmacies that are licensed in the United States and are registered with and activated in the iPLEDGE Program. CAUSES BIRTH DEFECTS DO NOT GET PREGNANT Please see accompanying complete product information, including CONTRAINDICATIONS, 2 WARNINGS, PRECAUTIONS, and ADVERSE REACTIONS. TABLE OF CONTENTS Guide to Isotretinoin for Female Patients Who Can Get Pregnant ....................4 Effective Methods of Birth Control .................................................................7 iPLEDGE® Program
    [Show full text]
  • Mechanisms for Regulating Off-Label Uses of Drugs and Devices
    ABBOTT AYRES IN PRINTER (DO NOT DELETE) 11/17/2014 8:34 PM Duke Law Journal VOLUME 64 DECEMBER 2014 NUMBER 3 EVIDENCE AND EXTRAPOLATION: MECHANISMS FOR REGULATING OFF-LABEL USES OF DRUGS AND DEVICES RYAN ABBOTT† & IAN AYRES†† ABSTRACT A recurring, foundational issue for evidence-based regulation is deciding whether to extend governmental approval from an existing use with sufficient current evidence of safety and efficacy to a novel use for which such evidence is currently lacking. This “extrapolation” issue arises in the medicines context when an approved drug or device that is already being marketed is being considered (1) for new conditions (such as off-label diagnostic categories), (2) for new patients (such as new subpopulations), (3) for new dosages or durations, or (4) as the basis for approving a related drug or device (such as a generic or biosimilar drug). Although the logic of preapproval testing and the precautionary principle—first, do no harm—would counsel in favor of prohibiting extrapolation approvals until after traditional safety and efficacy evidence exists, such delays would unreasonably sacrifice beneficial uses. The harm of accessing unsafe products must be balanced against the harm of restricting access to effective products. In fact, the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA’s) current regulations in many ways reject the precautionary principle because they largely permit individual Copyright © 2014 Ryan Abbott and Ian Ayres. † Associate Professor, Southwestern Law School and Visiting Assistant Professor, David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles. †† William K. Townsend Professor, Yale Law School. The authors would like to thank Richard Epstein, Hank Greely, Jennifer Herbst, Allison Hoffman, Jerome Reichman, William Sage, Jacob Sherkow, and Patti Zettler for their insightful comments.
    [Show full text]
  • The Pharmacist Guide for the Ipledge Program the Resource to Help the Pharmacist Understand and Comply with the Ipledge Program for Isotretinoin Therapy
    Current as of 6/1/2013. This document may not be part of the latest approved REMS. Most Recent Modification: April 2012 The iPLEDGE Program The Pharmacist Guide For the iPLEDGE Program The resource to help the pharmacist understand and comply with the iPLEDGE program for isotretinoin therapy Isotretinoin must not be used by female patients who are or may become pregnant. There is an extremely high risk that severe birth defects will result if pregnancy occurs while taking isotretinoin in any amount, even for a short period of time. Potentially any fetus exposed during pregnancy can be affected. There are no accurate means of determining whether an exposed fetus has been affected. IMPORTANT NOTICE Use only isotretinoin products approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. Fill isotretinoin prescriptions only at pharmacies that are licensed in the United States and are registered with and activated in the iPLEDGE program. Reference ID: 3136456 Current as of 6/1/2013. This document may not be part of the latest approved REMS. The Pharmacist Guide For the iPLEDGE Program TABLE OF CONTENTS About isotretinoin . 3 The iPLEDGE program . 5 Pharmacies and the iPLEDGE program . 6 The iPLEDGE web site and phone system . 8 The Responsible Site Pharmacist . 10 Procedure for filling and dispensing prescriptions . 14 iPLEDGE program general information . 16 Additional contraception information . 21 For more information about isotretinoin . 22 For iPLEDGE Program Information Call Center hours: Monday through Saturday, 9AM–12AM (midnight) EST 1-866-495-0654 www.ipledgeprogram.com 1 Reference ID: 3136456 Current as of 6/1/2013. This document may not be part of the latest approved REMS.
    [Show full text]
  • Toward Coherent Federal Oversight of Medicine
    ZETTLER FINAL (DO NOT DELETE) 7/27/2015 1:55 PM Toward Coherent Federal Oversight of Medicine PATRICIA J. ZETTLER* ABSTRACT The conventional wisdom in U.S. health law and policy holds that states regulate medical practice—the activities of physicians and other health care professionals—while the federal government regulates medical products. But relying on states as the principal regulators of medical practice has, at times, driven law and policy in directions that are problematic from a public health perspective, as demonstrated by a deadly 2012 outbreak of fungal meningitis that was linked to a primarily state- regulated practice known as drug compounding. This Article argues that the federalism concerns underlying the conventional wisdom are misplaced. It demonstrates that, contrary to conventional wisdom, the federal government is deeply entangled in regulating medical practice, and such federal regulation is lawful. After examining the goals of federalism within the context of medicine, this Article proposes an alternate paradigm for guiding decisions about when the federal government should be involved in overseeing medicine: Congress and administrative agencies * © 2015 Patricia J. Zettler. The author is a an Associate Professor at Georgia State University College of Law. She served as an attorney in the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Chief Counsel from 2009 to 2013. The author would like to thank Jonathan Abel, Hank Greely, Daniel Ho, Cathy Hwang, Matthew Jordan, Dmitry Karshtedt, Bernard Lo, Paul Lombardo, Eleanor Mayer, Michelle Mello, Seema Shah, Jacob Sherkow, Kayte Spector-Bagdaddy, David Studdert, and the Stanford Law School Fellows for their helpful comments and critiques.
    [Show full text]
  • Pregnancyoptions.Info: a Workbook of Options Including Abortion
    Pregnant? Need Help? Pregnancy Options Workbook Click here for the printable version or the downloadable PDF version Letter to Readers 1. Deciding What to Do About a Pregnancy A) Am I pregnant? B) How Pregnanct Am I? 2. Getting Ready to Make the Decision A) Is this the right time for me to bring life into the world? B) Other Questions C) Giving yourself time and space to think D) Understanding Shock E) "What Are You Feeling?" F) Write Your Story G) Getting Support 3. Deciding What To Do How we make decisions in our families Heartsick? Comments from Women Pregnancy Experience Other Women's Pregnancy Stories Special Tear Out Section for Parents Are You in an Abusive Relationship? What If?...What Then?... Draw a picture of your life The Pie Exercise Pros and Cons What If I Make the Wrong Choice? What If I Think I Made the Wrong Choice? Guided "Day Dreams" 4. Having a Baby/Being a Parent A) Some Common Questions B) Support Exercises Resources: Parenting 5. Abortion A) Some Common questions B) Feelings About Abortion Exercises C) "Which Method is Right for Me?" Comparisons Between The Abortion Pill and the Abortion Procedure D) The Abortion Exerience Emotional Health E) Forgiveness F) Resources: Abortion 6. Adoption A) Some Common Questions B) Adoption Planning Comments from women C) Adoption Letters Resources: Adoption 7. Stages of Pregnancy A) Fetal Development How Far Along Am I? Exercise Conception Implantation Growth 8. What Can Hurt the Pregnancy? A) Birth Defects B) Exposure C) Harmful Substances Resources:Harmful Substances Special Tear Out Section for Male Partners 9.
    [Show full text]
  • Health Care Refusals
    Health Care Refusals: Undermining Quality Care for Women The National Health Law Program is a national public interest law firm that seeks to improve health care for America’s working and unemployed poor, minorities, the elderly and people with disabilities. NHeLP serves legal services programs, community- based organizations, the private bar, providers and individuals who work to preserve a health care safety net for the millions of uninsured or underinsured low-income people. Health Care Refusals: Undermining Quality Care for Women National Health Law Program Standards of Care Project Standards of Care Project ADVISORY BOARD JudyAnn Bigby, M.D. Robyn Shapiro, J.D. Secretary of Health and Human Services Director Commonwealth of Massachusetts Center for Study of Bioethics Medical College of Wisconsin Marcelle Ivonne Cedars, M.D. Gardner, Carton & Douglas University of California, San Francisco Professor and Director, R. William Soller, Ph.D. Division of Reproductive Endocrinology Executive Director, Center for Consumer Director, Center for Reproductive Health Self Care Clinical Professor, Department of Don Downing, R.Ph. Clinical Pharmacy Clinical Associate Professor UCSF School of Pharmacy University of Washington Department of Pharmacy Nada L. Stotland, M.D., M.P.H. Professor, Department of Psychiatry Timothy RB Johnson, M.D., F.A.C.O.G. Professor, Department of Obstetrics Arthur F. Thurnau Professor & Gynecology Bates Professor of the Diseases of Rush Medical College of Rush University, Women and Children Chicago, Illinois Chair, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Carol S. Weisman, Ph.D. Professor, Women’s Studies Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs Research Professor, Center for Human Distinguished Professor of Growth and Development Public Health Sciences & University of Michigan Obstetrics and Gynecology Penn State College of Medicine Panna Lossy, M.D.
    [Show full text]
  • February06 Newsletter.Indd
    newsletter National Association of Boards of Pharmacy® February 2006 / Volume 35 Number 2 aid to government Groups Advocate Various Plan B the profession the public Classifications as FDA Delays 1904 to 2006 Decision on OTC Application At the end of 2005, Food 1999. If taken as directed been realized. If women This Month on and Drug Administration within 72 hours after know about and have access www.nabp.net: (FDA) found itself unprotected intercourse to EC, proponents say, the embroiled in a controversy or contraception failure, number of unintended Special Items in the highly charged area these EC drugs have been pregnancies could be cut Register Online for the NABP of reproductive medicine shown to reduce the risk dramatically – as could nd 102 Annual Meeting or, more specifically, of pregnancy by 89%, and the subsequent emotional, 2005 Fall Educational emergency contraception they are more effective the financial, and physical Conference CE Summaries (EC). As of press time, earlier they are taken. Since costs to women; the costs Headlines FDA had yet to issue a final they largely impede pre- to society of overburdened Author Provides Insight into Development of Dangerous decision on whether or not fertilization events such as families, teen mothers, Doses at Fall Educational to categorize an emergency release of an egg from the or neglected children; Conference contraceptive marketed ovary or fertilization of the and the health care and as Plan B® as an over-the- egg by the sperm and do not social services costs to Upcoming counter (OTC) drug. interfere with an established governments. Moreover, Meetings Two dedicated EC pregnancy (after the it has been estimated that medications have been fertilized egg has implanted nearly half of unintended Thursday-Friday in the uterus), ECs are pregnancies are terminated February 23-24, 2006 available by prescription for Committee on Constitution the last several years – not medically or legally by induced abortion, so and Bylaws Preven®, containing considered abortifacients.
    [Show full text]