The Dedicated Product NorLevo is Now Available Over the Counter in France
On June 1st, 1999, HRA Pharma’s NorLevo was granted over the counter status in France. This is the first dedicated emergency contraceptive product to receive such status in a major market. NorLevo was approved last November, but was not launched until May 30th of this year because the company was awaiting a decision on its legal status.
NorLevo is a progestin-only emergency
contraceptive and contains no estrogen. Progestin-only ECPs are more
effective than combined ECPs (containing both estrogen and progestin)
and cause fewer side effects. Therapy is more effective the earlier
it is initiated within the 72 hour window.
NorLevo will compete with Tetragynon, (known in other countries as
PC4), the Schering AG emergency contraceptive product that was introduced
in France this past January. NorLevo will be marketed by Laboratories
Besins-Iscovesco, and will cost approximately $8.70. France’s social
security program will not refund any of this cost.