Abortion drug could help reduce risk of breast cancer, group of medics says

Three previous small studies found mifepristone showed promise in slowing down the growth of cancerous cells. Photograph: Sophie Park

A drug used in medical abortions could help prevent women at high risk of breast cancer from developing the disease, according to an international group of doctors and scientists.

However, “stigma” around mifepristone is stopping pharmaceutical companies from investigating its potential as a new treatment doctors could offer to reduce the risk of breast cancer, they say.