WASHINGTON (April 13, 2023) — Yesterday a federal appeals court blocked a ruling by a Texas judge to suspend the Food and Drug Administration’s approval of the abortion medication called mifepristone. The ruling preserves access to this medication for now but public health experts say access to this essential health care service is still at risk. The appeals court also declined to block another part of the Texas ruling which invalidated the FDA approval process for this drug. If allowed to stand, experts say the Texas ruling could upend the FDA process of drug approval.
The George Washington University has experts available to comment on the FDA approval process and the public health consequences of this court battle over mifepristone. To schedule an interview contact Kathy Fackelmann at [email protected] or GW Media at [email protected].
Julia Strasser is a research professor of health policy and management as well as Director of the Jacobs Institute of Women’s Health at the GW Milken Institute School of Public Health. She is an expert on reproductive health and the abortion provider workforce. She is available to comment on the impact of revoking FDA’s approval of mifepristone on women’s health.
Elizabeth Borkowski is a senior research scientist in health policy and management at the GW Milken Institute School of Public Health. Her areas of expertise include reproductive health and U.S. healthcare policy affecting women's health. She is available to comment on the science and safety of mifepristone as well as the FDA approval process.
Borkowski and Strasser are the authors of a recent op-ed on this topic in Scientific American that says:
“When federal Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk suspended the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of the drug mifepristone on April 7, he significantly jeopardized access to abortion. In addition to dealing an immediate blow to accessing an essential and time-sensitive health care service, this decision also upended a drug approval system that for decades has been based on scientific evidence and expert medical opinions. Kacsmaryk overshadowed a trusted system with the specter of a drug supply shaped by judicial fiat.”
-GW-