Canadian Sales Of Plan B Since Nonprescription Access Granted Have Almost Doubled, Figures Say

Canadian sales of Barr Laboratories subsidiary Duramed Pharmaceuticals' emergency contraceptive Plan B -- which can prevent pregnancy if taken up to 72 hours after sexual intercourse -- have increased since nonprescription sales of the drug were approved in the country, according to figures released on Monday by DoctorSolve Healthcare Solutions, a company that sells drugs through its Web site, the Boston Globe reports (Henderson, Boston Globe, 6/21). Canada's national health agency, Health Canada, in April 2005 approved Plan B for use without a doctor's prescription, allowing the pills to be sold at pharmacies nationwide (Kaiser Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 4/21/05). Duramed in January 2005 sold 23,000 pills to retail pharmacies, compared with 41,000 pills currently sold by Canadian pharmacies monthly, the DoctorSolve figures say. A Barr spokesperson said the company does not track product transfers to Duramed but added that inventory figures corroborate DoctorSolve's figures. Judith Soon -- an assistant professor at the University of British Columbia who is in the process of evaluating EC use -- said data from the health care information firm IMS Health also confirms an increase in sales of Plan B in Canada after nonprescription access was granted in Canada. Soon said, "As many states border on Canadian provinces, it is likely that [U.S.] women obtain Plan B treatments by crossing the border or though Internet pharmacies." Soon said it is not possible to measure that potential trend (Boston Globe, 6/21).

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