Ibis announces groundbreaking partnership with HRA Pharma to move a birth control pill over the counter

We are thrilled to announce that Ibis Reproductive Health will work with HRA Pharma to conduct the research needed and submit an application to the United States Food and Drug Administration to make a birth control pill available over the counter. This is an exciting step forward in our work to increase access to reproductive health care and improve women’s ability to access safe and effective contraceptive methods. We have worked for more than a decade with a broad coalition of health care providers, advocates, and researchers in the Oral Contraceptives Over-the-Counter Working Group to build the evidence and make the case for the benefits of moving a birth control pill over the counter. Too many people in the United States face barriers to accessing the contraceptive methods they want; a safe and effective hormonal birth control pill available over the counter would improve access and help people overcome some of those barriers. Our coalition is committed to conducting the research and advocacy to ensure any over-the-counter method is covered by health insurance and available to everyone who needs it. We look forward to a fruitful partnership with HRA as we embark on this historic process together. 

This partnership is featured in an article from Vox. Click here to receive updates from the OCs OTC Working Group. Learn more at freethepill.org and ocsotc.org. Please direct inquiries to Britt Wahlin, Vice President for Development and Public Affairs, at bwahlin@ibisreproductivehealth.org or 434-328-2393.