Supreme Court Hears Challenge to FDA’s Approval and Expansion of Mifepristone Access

On March 26, the US Supreme Court heard arguments related to a challenge to the use of mifepristone, a drug originally approved by the FDA in 2000, with changes to the FDA’s approval allowing for expansions to access in 2016 and 2021 by permitting prescriptions to be made via telehealth and for the medication to be sent to patients by mail. While the outcome is far from certain, a majority of the Justices appeared to side with the government, as opposed to those challenging the FDA’s approvals, with much of the argument focused on the question of standing. Regardless of the outcome of this case, mifepristone remains illegal in many states that have enacted near-total abortion bans.