The Food and Drug Administration on Friday approved the new drug ella for emergency contraception. The drug is designed to be used within five days after a contraceptive failure or unprotected intercourse and will require a prescription.
The drug, known generically as ulipristal acetate, is thought to inhibit or delay ovulation by interfering with the effects of the female hormone progesterone, which stimulates ovulation. It has been available in Europe for a year under the name ellaOne.
