Walgreens Will Continue To Sell Alternative Abortion Pill: Report

DEERFIELD, IL — While pharmacy giants like Walgreens seek approval from the Food and Drug Administration to sell the abortion pill mifepristone nationwide, the Deerfield-based company will continue to offer an alternative medication to customers in states where it is legal. Walgreens Boots Alliance, the parent company of Walgreens, said Thursday its pharmacists can dispense misoprostol, reports Crain's Chicago Business.

Earlier this week, the Justice Department appealed a Texas court ruling that would halt approval of mifepristone. Misoprostol, also used to prevent stomach ulcers caused by anti-inflammatories, is regularly prescribed for abortions. It is not affected by the ruling in Texas.

“If our pharmacy received a prescription for misoprostol that was intended to be used as an abortifacient in a state where it is legal to dispense, Walgreens would not prohibit our pharmacist from using his/her professional judgment to dispense this medication,” Walgreens spokesman Fraser Engerman told Crain's.

Patch has reached out to Walgreens regarding this development.

According to Associated Press, the order issued last week by U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, an appointee of Donald Trump, could restrict access to mifepristone. The Biden administration has appealed the decision, calling it an "extraordinary and unprecedented order."

RELATED: Justice Department Appeals Texas Abortion Pill Order

A letter, penned by Republican Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey in February, was sent to Walgreens and several other major U.S. pharmacies intending to sell mifepristone. The letter warns that the sale of abortion pills would violate federal law and abortion laws in many states. It was co-signed by attorneys general in 20 states.

"I can confirm we have responded to the state attorneys general letter to Walgreens dated Feb. 1 by indicating we will not dispense mifepristone in their respective states," a senior manager of media relations for Walgreens Boots Alliance told Patch last month. "We are not distributing mifepristone at this time. We intend to be a certified pharmacy and will distribute mifepristone only in those jurisdictions where it is legal and operationally feasible."

The move by Walgreens came just two months after the company announced its plans to become the first major U.S. pharmacy to sell mifepristone.

Mifepristone was approved by the FDA in 2000 and an emergency rule made it available by mail order in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The emergency rule change was made permanent in December 0f 2021.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker expressed his unhappiness with the decision by Walgreens to not sell mifepristone in the 20 states.

"I've spoken with Walgreens executives and expressed my deep disappointment at their announced policy, and I’ve urged them to rethink this decision that will severely limit access to essential healthcare for thousands of women," Pritzker said at the time.

RELATED:

• Pritzker Urges Walgreens To Reconsider Abortion Pill Decision
• California Gov Hints State Will Sever Ties With IL-Based Walgreens
• Walgreens Will Not Sell Abortion Pill By Mail In 20 States
• Illinois AG Raoul, Others Sue FDA Over Safety Of Abortion Medication
• FDA Makes It Easier To Get Abortion Pills, Including In Illinois