Congressional Appropriators Encourage FDA Guidance On Contraceptive OTC Switches

House and Senate reports again reference sunscreen but add admonishment that FDA “harmonize its approach with international testing standards.” Item exclusive to House report encourages guidance for drug firms on successfully submitting an application for Rx-to-OTC switch of an oral contraceptive.

Congressional appropriators want more in the OTC oral contraceptive category from the US Food and Drug Administration than the first nonprescription birth control pill it approved in 2023 while also encouraging progress on OTC diagnostic tests and requesting an explanation of its homeopathic drug regulation.

The House and Senate appropriation committees recently published their reports stating instructions and requests for the FDA along with their...