Feds to look at RU-486 infections

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration plans a Thursday meeting at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta regarding RU-486 infections.

Specifically, the FDA, along with the CDC and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, will discuss infections caused by the bacterium Clostridium sordellii in some women taking mifepristone, known by the brand name Mifeprex and often called RU-486, The Wall Street Journal reported Monday.

Mifeprex is manufactured by Danco Laboratories LLC and is used with another drug, misoprostol, to cause an abortion during the early stages of pregnancy.

The FDA wants to investigate the cause of four Clostridium sordellii infections that occurred in young California women taking mifepristone. A fifth possible infection is under investigation in Colorado.

Federal officials want to determine why five potential U.S. cases occurred in the western United States, yet a similar problem has not been reported in Europe.

FDA officials say Thursday's meeting will be apolitical but officials from several anti-abortion rights groups, including the National Right to Life Committee, say they will attend the meeting and will be allowed to ask questions.

Copyright 2006 by United Press International

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