Walgreens, CVS begin rollout of abortion pill mifepristone

Walgreens and CVS are rolling out the abortifacient mifepristone in states where abortion is legal. 

Walgreens said last week it is selling the drug in locations in New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, California, and Illinois with plans to "gradually expand availability to locations in all legally permissible states in a phased approach."

CVS said last week it is dispensing mifepristone in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. "In the weeks ahead, we will begin a staggered rollout of this service in additional states where legally permissible," CVS said. 

The Food and Drug Administration announced last year that mifepristone could be sold at major pharmacy chains with a prescription. The drug was previously only available at select clinics or mail-order pharmacies.

Mifepristone is used in conjunction with misoprostol to induce an abortion. The latter can be used alone to terminate a pregnancy through the tenth week of gestation, but it is only approved by the FDA for the prevention and treatment of some gastric ulcers.

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