FDA Panel Recommends Approval of New Version of Female Condom

Daily Women's Health Policy Report: FDA Panel Recommends Approval of New, Less Costly Female Condom:

An FDA advisory panel on Thursday voted 15-0 to recommend approval of the new, less costly version of the female condom developed by the Female Health Company, Reuters reports. Experts told the panel that the lower price of the new condom -- called the FC2 female condom -- could attract more women to the product and allow health organizations to increase distribution in an effort to curb the spread of HIV/AIDS, Reuters reports. Approval of the less costly version also could boost U.S. sales -- which accounted for 10% of the company's 34.7 million unit sales in 2008 -- Reuters reports (Heavey, Reuters, 12/11).