Latest U.S. Food and Drug Administration News

Supreme Court again confronts the issue of abortion, this time over access to widely used medication

Mar. 25, 2024 06:47 AM EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court will again wade into the fractious issue of abortion this week when it hears arguments over a medication used in the most common way to end a pregnancy, a case with profound implications for millions of women no matter where they live in America and, perhaps,...

Mifepristone access is coming before the US Supreme Court. How safe is this abortion pill?

Mar. 24, 2024 09:05 AM EDT

The U.S. Supreme Court will take up a case Tuesday that could impact how women get access to mifepristone, one of the two pills used in the most common type of abortion in the nation. The central dispute in the case is whether the Food and Drug Administration overlooked serious...

A blood test for colon cancer performed well in a study, expanding options for screening

Mar. 13, 2024 17:12 PM EDT

A blood test for colon cancer performed well in a study published Wednesday, offering a new kind of screening for a leading cause of cancer deaths. The test looks for DNA fragments shed by tumor cells and precancerous growths. It's already for sale in the U.S. for $895, but has not...

Kentucky House passes bill meant to crack down on electronic cigarette sales to minors

Mar. 11, 2024 21:20 PM EDT

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Legislation aimed at cracking down on the illegal sale of electronic cigarettes to young people and keeping unauthorized vaping products out of stores won passage in the Kentucky House on Monday. Republican state Rep. Rebecca Raymer, the bill's lead sponsor,...

Lead-tainted cinnamon has been recalled. Here's what you should know

Mar. 08, 2024 18:39 PM EST

Several U.S. discount retailers recalled packages of ground cinnamon after federal health officials warned that they were contaminated with high levels of lead. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a safety alert for six brands of cinnamon, including those sold at Dollar Tree...

Obesity drug Wegovy is approved to cut heart attack and stroke risk in overweight patients

Mar. 08, 2024 17:02 PM EST

The popular weight-loss drug Wegovy, which has helped millions of Americans shed pounds, can now be used to reduce the risk of stroke, heart attacks and other serious cardiovascular problems in patients who are overweight or who have obesity, federal regulators said Friday. The U.S....

Maker of much-debated ALS drug says it may stop selling it after study showed it didn't work

Mar. 08, 2024 12:31 PM EST

WASHINGTON (AP) — The maker of a much-debated drug for Lou Gehrig’s disease said Friday its therapy failed to help patients in a large follow-up study, but stopped short of committing to follow through on a prior pledge to pull the drug from the U.S. market. The Food and Drug...

FDA will take a deeper look into the safety and effectiveness of Lilly experimental Alzheimer's drug

Mar. 08, 2024 11:48 AM EST

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Federal regulators put off a decision on whether to approve an Eli Lilly Alzheimer’s drug by making an unusual request to have outside advisers look at the treatment. Lilly had expected the Food and Drug Administration to decide on donanemab's approval by the...

Ground cinnamon sold at discount stores is tainted with lead, FDA warns

Mar. 06, 2024 16:36 PM EST

Ground cinnamon sold by U.S. discount retailers is contaminated with high levels of lead and should be discarded, federal health officials said Wednesday. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said cinnamon sold by stores including the Dollar Tree and Family Dollar contains lead at...

First over-the-counter birth control pill in US begins shipping to stores

Mar. 04, 2024 13:45 PM EST

WASHINGTON (AP) — The first over-the-counter birth control pill will be available in U.S. stores later this month, allowing American women and teens to purchase contraceptive medication as easily as they buy aspirin. Manufacturer Perrigo said Monday it has begun shipping the...