Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
World
Melody Schreiber

US mothers face uncertainty as lone, unproven drug for preterm birth pulled

While 9.2% of white infants are born early, 14.2% of Black infants and 11.6% of American Indian and Alaska Natives infants are born before 37 weeks of gestation in the US.
While 9.2% of white infants are born early, 14.2% of Black infants and 11.6% of American Indian and Alaska Natives infants are born before 37 weeks of gestation in the US. Photograph: Andriy Popov/Alamy

Makena is the only drug approved specifically to prevent premature birth, a major health issue facing children and families, in the US. In the 12 years since it was fast-tracked by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), hundreds of thousands of patients in America have received injections of Makena, which is about 5,200% more expensive than generic versions of the same medication.

There was just one problem: there’s no evidence Makena actually works.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.