FDA reviewing safety of abortion drug mifepristone

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is moving ahead with a safety review of the abortion pill mifepristone, according to an administration official.

The move marks a victory for anti-abortion groups that could pave the way for the Trump administration to restrict its use and how it can be distributed.

The retrospective analysis of data is likely to take six months to complete, the official said, but initial results could be released earlier.

The White House has been under pressure from anti-abortion lawmakers and activists to crack down on the availability of mifepristone, which can be sent through the mail even to states that limit or outright ban abortion.

Some of the groups accused the FDA of slow walking the review to avoid a political headache before the midterm elections, an allegation that the White House and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) leaders rejected.

The news on the study was first reported by the Wall Street Journal.

An administration official said the study has been underway for months and disputed the idea that it........

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