Federal judge in Texas suspends FDA approval of abortion pill

Mifeprex, the brand name for mifepristone, is a drug that is used to end an early pregnancy, seen here at Alamo Women’s Reproductive Services in San Antonio on June 14, 2022. (Credit: Kylie Cooper/The Texas Tribune)

In a potentially devastating blow for abortion access nationwide, a federal judge in Amarillo has suspended the approval of mifepristone, an abortion-inducing drug that has been on the market for more than 20 years.

U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk’s ruling will go into effect in seven days, to allow the U.S. Food and Drug Administration time to appeal the decision.