Opill, the first OTC contraceptive in the U.S., is now shipping to retailers and costs about $20 for a one-month pack

CNN
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Opill, the first oral contraceptive approved for over-the-counter use in the United States, will be available in stores and online this month at a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $19.99 for a one-month supply and $49.99 for a three-month supply. According to Perrigo, the company that developed this product:

Perrigo announced Monday that Opil will be shipping to major retailers and pharmacies and will be available for pre-order at select retailers starting this week.Once the product is on store shelves, anyone can It can be purchased without a prescription. It will also be available on Opill.com.

“From an online perspective, you should be able to order almost immediately,” said Triona Schmelter, Perrigo's executive vice president and president of consumer self-care Americas.

As for stock availability, “I think it's going to take a few weeks to get through the distribution pipeline. It's going to be shipped to the retailer's distribution facility and then shipped to the retailer's stores,” she said. But once the product hits shelves, “consumers should be able to find it in the family planning section of most retail stores and pick it up at their convenience.”

Perrigo said Opil will be sold in stores and online in one-month and three-month packs. A 6-month supply will also be sold for $89.99 on Opill.com.

Perrigo said Opil was found to be 98% effective in preventing pregnancy when taken at the same time each day and as directed. Most oral contraceptives are up to 99% effective at preventing pregnancy when taken daily as directed.

“We're excited about this. It's looking very good,” Perrigo President and CEO Patrick Lockwood Taylor said of Opil's development during an earnings call last week. “The product is here, waiting to be distributed.”

Walgreens and CVS announced they would offer the product.

“Opill will be available through CVS.com and the CVS Pharmacy app in late March,” spokesperson Matt Blanchett wrote in an email Friday. “In early April, Opill will be available in more than 7,500 CVS Pharmacy stores, and for added privacy and convenience, customers can choose same-day delivery or buy online and pick up in store. It will be like this.”

Some online retailers, including women's health hub Stix, are also prepared to offer the product. Stix founders Jamie Norwood and Cynthia Ploch say they are “excited” about Opill's important milestone in the accessibility of contraceptives, but are concerned about the impact cost will have on contraceptive uptake. I feel the pain,” he said.

A 2022 survey conducted by the nonprofit organization KFF found that among women who said they were likely to use over-the-counter contraceptives, 39% were willing to pay up to $10 a month; 34 We found that % of respondents said they would continue to use the product. Only about 16% of respondents said they would be willing to pay more than $20 per month, which is the recommended cost for Opil's one-month pack. Under the Affordable Care Act, most insurance plans are required to cover contraception without a copay, so it's free.

“With these insights, Stix is ​​committed to breaking down economic barriers and ensuring essential health products and services are within reach of everyone,” said Norwood and Plotch. ”

Ploch said Opil “could be really great for people who don't have access to prescription oral contraceptives that are covered by health insurance.”

Last year, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Opil for over-the-counter sales. This means that it is available without a prescription. Since then, questions have swirled around how much it will cost.

An advocacy group called Free the Pill is one of the groups advocating for lower prices. Free the Pill sent a letter to Perrigo in January asking the company and retailers to reduce the price of Opil to just $15 for a three-month supply.

“We also urge Perrigo to implement a robust and accessible consumer assistance program for those who cannot afford it,” the letter reads. “Perrigo's and retailers' decision to make Opil more affordable will help combat contraceptive inequities that are rooted in systemic racism and other forms of oppression. It has already taken root across the United States.”

Perrigo's Schmelter said advocacy groups like Free the Pill “are critical in building research, educating the public, educating us, and being advocates for commercializing oral contraceptives.” “is an indispensable presence.”

He added that Perrigo has a cost assistance program for eligible low-income and uninsured people that will be available in the coming weeks.

“To ensure consumer availability, we really thought about all consumers when developing our pricing strategy and wanted to ensure both affordability and in-store availability. '' Schmelter said.

People with insurance may be able to get Opil payments or reimbursements through flexible spending or health savings accounts, Perrigo said.

Cost and insurance coverage issues may still put Opil out of reach for some people, but overall, over-the-counter oral contraceptives are a “huge step forward,” says NYU Langone, director of family planning. said Dr. Colleen Denney. Hospital – Brooklyn, via email.

“Having highly effective contraceptives on shelves could be a major step forward in improving access to high-quality contraceptives. We know that access can be a potentially significant barrier for patients,” she wrote. “Over-the-counter pills may help with that.”

Opil works as a “mini-pill” and uses only the hormone progestin to prevent pregnancy. Combined hormonal contraceptives containing both progestin and estrogen pose a higher risk of blood clots than progestin-only contraceptives, says Ashima, chief medical officer and co-founder of Carrot Fertility, a global fertility treatment platform.・Dr. Ahmad said. .

“Progestin-only tablets do not increase the risk of blood clots like combined OCPs do, so they can be a great option for some people who cannot take combined OCPs,” Ahmad wrote in an email, adding that oral contraceptives mentioned.

“For a drug to be effective, it needs to be taken at the same time each day. But if you don't take it consistently at about the same time each day, it becomes less effective,” she said.

Because Opil is a progestin-only oral contraceptive, it is “incredibly safe” for most people interested in taking it, said Dr. Ashley Brandt, director of complex family planning at the Cleveland Clinic.

Using oral contraceptives in combination can pose a risk for people with uncontrolled high blood pressure and a risk of blood clots for smokers over 35. Contraindications for progestin-only pills include diseases such as breast cancer or liver disease, or the use of certain medications.

“Contraceptive pills can be progestin-only or a combination of estrogen and progestin. For most people, both oral contraceptives are safe, but progestin-only pills in particular have few contraindications. There is almost no medical reason why it is unsafe for women,” Brandt said, adding that overall, Opill is a “huge step” in making contraception more accessible.

“There will still be many people who would prefer to consult a trusted health care professional, talk about other options, get a prescription, and use their insurance to cover the prescription. That's impossible. Please leave,” she said. “This is just an additional method of birth control that we didn't have before.”