Ripples from the Texas abortion case: 4 updates

Three days before a federal judge's preliminary injunction takes effect to block the abortion pill mifepristone, hundreds of biotech and pharma leaders have condemned the ruling, and some states are stocking up. 

Here are four updates:

1. About 400 executives at biotech and pharmaceutical companies signed a statement rebuking a Texas federal judge's April 7 decision that questions the FDA's authority to approve one of the two pills used in medication abortion. They said they "cannot stay quiet."

"If courts can overturn drug approvals without regard for science or evidence, or for the complexity required to fully vet the safety and efficacy of new drugs, any medicine is at risk for the same outcome as mifepristone," the statement said.

Two Biogen presidents, Chris Viehbacker and Alisha Alaimo; Merck Executive Director Christopher Tan; and Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla, PhD, signed the statement.

2. On April 10, the Justice Department appealed U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk's ruling and requested a longer stay. Mr. Kacsmaryk gave seven days before the decision goes into effect on April 14, but the Justice Department said the "court should extend the administrative stay pending resolution of stay proceedings in this court and, if necessary, the Supreme Court."

With a conflicting ruling concerning mifepristone access in 17 states and Washington, D.C., the proceedings will likely head to the Supreme Court.

3. At least three states have squirreled away abortion pill supplies. Washington state ordered a three-year supply of mifepristone before the preliminary injunction, and after the ruling, California secured about 2 million pills of misoprostol — the other medication used in the two-drug regimen — and Massachusetts stockpiled 15,000 mifepristone doses.

4. Danco Laboratories, which makes Mifeprex, a brand-name for mifepristone, told Becker's the company has seen an increase in orders and has quickly filled the orders. 

"Our supply is stable and plentiful," a spokesperson said. 

Becker's asked Danco to quantify the increase in demand and will update the story if more information becomes available.

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