U.S. District Court finds FDA's actions on Plan B tainted by politics

NEW YORK A federal judge ordered the Food and Drug Administration to allow 17-year-olds to buy the Plan B (levonogestrel) contraceptive pill behind the counter Monday, accusing the FDA of giving in to political influence.

Edward Korman, U.S. district judge for the Eastern District of New York, accused the FDA of dragging its feet in deciding whether to approve BTC sales of the drug to teenage girls. The drug already is sold behind the counter to women 18 and older.

The court has ordered the FDA to make Plan B available to 17-year-olds without prescription starting in 30 days.

Barr Labs, which Teva Pharmaceutical Industries recently acquired, markets Plan B.