In February 2015, Medicines360 and Actavis announced the approval of the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) LILETTA™ by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use by women to prevent pregnancy for up to three years. The FDA’s approval was based on data from a clinical trial of more than 1,700 women that found that LILETTA was more than 99 percent effective in preventing pregnancy.
The LNG-IUS is among the most effective forms of reversible contraception and is increasingly popular among women worldwide. However, the high cost of existing products has limited their availability in many settings. LILETTA will be affordably priced for women in both the developed and the developing world.
Medicines360 is currently partnering with FHI 360 and Marie Stopes International to support introduction of Medicines360 product in Kenya through a grant from the Reproductive Health Supplies Coalition.
In May 2015, the LNG-IUS was added to the World Health Organization’s (WHO’s) Essential Medicines List (EML) which will further help expand access in developing countries. WHO’s list of is often used by national governments to inform the development of their own EMLs.
For more information about the FDA approval of LILETTA, please contact info@medicines360.org. For more information about the work in Kenya, please contact cti@fhi360.org.
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