The abortifacient "emergency abortion" pill known by the trade name Preven was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) with much fanfare and free promotion by the mainstream media. To be distributed by the "paper" corporation Gynetics, Preven will be manufactured by Barr Laboratories, a generic manufacturer.
The high dose of steroids in Preven has been shown to be at least 75.4% effective in killing post-conception children. The woman using Preven will expose herself and her preborn child to 10-20 times greater progesterone exposure than found in the common OC (oral contraceptive) Triphasil, as well as much greater levels of estrogen.
The kit costs about $20, a price about five times the usual $20-30 per packet monthly users of OC's dish out when paying cash. The kit includes a pregnancy test.
Emergency abortion pills were actually first approved by the FDA in a sneak approval in June 1996, just prior to that body's approval of mifepristone (formerly known as RU486). The FDA had petitioned itself for EA approval, since no drug company wished to step forward and be the lightening rod for pro-life opposition.
Many independent and some chain pharmacies have elected not to carry Preven. Much to their credit, Wal-Mart wisely has taken the corporate position not to stock Preven.
Source: Beginnings - Oct., Nov., Dec., 1998