US probes effectiveness of morning after pill

The US Food and Drug Administration is looking into whether morning-after contraceptive pills fail to work in women over a certain weight and will decide whether to add a warning to the drug’s label.

The agency was reacting to reports that European health regulators had ordered a label change for the emergency contraceptive — sold in Europe by French drugmaker HRA Pharma under the brand name Norlevo — requiring it to include the drug’s diminishing effectiveness based on weight.

The FDA is “currently reviewing the available and related scientific information on this issue, including the publication upon which the Norlevo labelling change was based”, said FDA spokeswoman Erica Jefferson.