FDA pulls Makena birth control medication

The Food and Drug Administration has ordered the immediate withdrawal of a drug intended to prevent premature births.

Makena has remained available for years despite data showing it doesn’t help pregnant women.

The decision follows repeated efforts by a Swiss drug maker to keep the drug on the U.S. market, while it conducted additional studies.
The medication was the only drug approved in the U.S. to help reduce the risk of early births in women with a history of pre-term deliveries.
The injectable drug is a synthetic version of the hormone Progesterone, which helps the uterus sustain pregnancy.
The drug is known to cause side effects, including blood clots, depression and allergic reactions.