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Roe v. Wade
This case was the most significant in the history of abortion in America. It provided that abortions should be legal if there was a convincing reason to have one (such as was stated in Jane Roe's case). This decision was immediately updated in Doe v. Bolton. -
Abortion Pill (Mifepristone) Development
Researchers at Roussel-Uclaf, a French pharmaceutical company, develop mifepristone (RU-486). -
FDA Bans the Importation of RU-486
In response to pressure from the Bush Administration and others, the FDA bans the importation of RU-486 for personal use. Hoechst says it won't market or distribute the drug outside of France to appease groups against abortion rights. -
Challenge to the FDA Import Ban
An American woman named Leona Benten issues the first direct challenge to the FDA import ban when U.S. Customs seizes the drug from her as she returns from Europe. However the U.S. Supreme Court refuses to hear her case or order the FDA to overturn the ban. -
Re-examination of Abortion Pill
President Clinton asks the FDA to re-examine its import ban. -
New Suggestion
The Institute of Medicine suggests that an expedited new drug application be submitted to the FDA for the use of RU-486 as a method of early abortion. -
Women Begin Using the Pill
Roussel-Uclaf gives the Population Council the U.S. patent rights for RU-486. Clinical trials involving 2,100 women begin. -
Roadblock
A major roadblock: The European manufacturer responsible for producing RU-486 in the U.S. cancels its contract with the Population Council -- delaying the drug's introduction in the U.S. indefinitely. -
Study in The New England Journal of Medicine
A study in The New England Journal of Medicine shows that RU-486, when used in combination with a type of drug called a prostaglandin (misoprostol), medically terminates 92% of pregnancies when taken within 49 days of conception. -
Development of Amendment
An amendment to a bill is passed that bans the FDA from using funds to test, develop, or approve any abortion drug. -
The Clinton Administration Opposes
The Clinton administration opposes the amendment. -
Deletion of Bill
The ban is deleted from the bill. -
Postpones Approval of Pill
The FDA postpones approval of RU-486 until certain questions about the manufacturing and distribution of the drug are answered. -
Approved--Again
RU-486 is approved by FDA as a method of early medical abortion.