Women's Sex Drive Pill Is Defended by FDA, With Caveats
- Addyi approved in August, sold by Valeant Pharmaceuticals
- Agency officials say women should be able to decide on drug
The Road Ahead for Addyi: Why Did Sprout's CEO Leave?
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Approving a pill to boost women’s sex drive was the right decision and patients should be able to make their own call about taking it, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said in an essay defending the agency’s move in a leading medical journal.
The FDA had previously rejected the drug, called Addyi, twice. Before signing off on the pill in August, the FDA said it had required more research on its risks. Developed by Sprout Pharmaceuticals Inc., it’s now sold by Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc., which announced two days after the drug’s approval that it would buy Sprout for $1 billion.