US regulator to review abortion drug after political pressure

The American medicines regulator has committed to reviewing the safety of the abortion pill mifepristone, amid renewed political scrutiny and pressure from conservative lawmakers.

Marty Makary, commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, said the agency would examine post-marketing safety data for the drug, which is used to medically terminate early pregnancies. In a letter to Missouri senator Josh Hawley, Dr Makary said he would work alongside career scientists to assess the evidence, though he stopped short of promising immediate action.

Mr Hawley, a vocal critic of mifepristone, had recently called on Dr Makary to revisit the drug’s safety profile and to “restore critical safeguards.” His concerns were fueled by a study from the Ethics and Public Policy Center, a conservative think tank, which alleged that 11% of users experienced serious adverse events.