FDA schedules meeting to discuss over-the-counter birth control pill

The Food and Drug Administration has slated a joint committee meeting to review pharmaceutical company Perrigo's application to make its birth control pills available over the counter, which would be the first-ever daily birth control medication to be available without a prescription.

The Nonprescription Drugs Advisory Committee and the Obstetrics, Reproductive, and Urologic Drugs Advisory Committee will consider if the company's nonestrogen oral contraceptive can be made available without a prescription on Nov. 18.

HRA Pharma, a subsidiary of Perrigo, submitted its application in July, arguing that removing the prescription requirement for...