New female condom endorsed by FDA panel

Supporters hope redesigned contraceptive will increase usage

By Judith Graham | Tribune reporter
December 16, 2008

A new, cheaper version of the female condom has won approval from a Food and Drug Administration advisory panel, setting the stage for broader distribution of the product worldwide.

If, as expected, the FDA heeds the panel's recommendation, this altered contraceptive option—designed primarily for women who want to avoid sexually transmitted infections—could become available in the U.S. by mid-2009. The panel approved the new version late Thursday.

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