Ulipristal Acetate

Ulipristal acetate (ellaOne®) is indicated for emergency contraception within 120 hours (5 days) of unprotected sexual intercourse or contraceptive failure. It is a selective progesterone receptor modulator, that works by preventing or delaying ovulation. ellaOne® works best if taken within 24 hours. By removing the need to obtain a prescription for this medicine, a faster women’s access to the medicine was enabled and therefore its effectiveness increased. Based on the assessment of available information, the CHMP found that ellaOne® can be used safely and effectively without medical prescription.

ellaOne® has been authorised in the EU since 2009 and extensive information on its risks and benefits has been collected and studied. Its safety profile is comparable to levonorgestrel-containing emergency contraceptives, which were already available without prescription in most EU countries and are registered for use up to 72 hours after unprotected intercourse or contraceptive failure.