A study published Thursday found that the French abortion drug RU-486 is also a highly effective morning-after pill - findings one doctor suggested could reduce opposition to putting the drug on the U.S. market.
"I think this will change the political landscape for this medicine," said Dr. David A. Grimes of the University of Southern California. "It is a use that may prevent abortion rather than cause abortion."However, a pro-life group said it would fight this use of the drug, arguing that a morning-after pill is just another form of abortion.
Richard Glasow of the National Right to Life Committee called the study "a blatant attempt to improve the public image of a dangerous abortion technique."
RU-486 has not been approved for use in the United States. It is available only in France, where it was introduced in 1988, and in Britain, Sweden and China.
As it is now used, RU-486 acts on the hormonal system to trigger abortions early in pregnancy.