Aska Pharmaceutical has applied to sell its emergency contraceptive pill Norlevo without a prescription, according to a recent announcement by the company, marking a potential shift in Japan’s approach to reproductive health care.
The application, which was originally submitted in June 2024, is progressing after amendments to an act on pharmaceutical and medical devices passed on Wednesday. The amendments are set to take effect in 2027.
The government began examining the switch to over-the-counter use for such medications in 2021, with a trial run beginning in 2023 that offers them at some pharmacies without a prescription. Aska filed the application in 2024 to be able to respond to potential demand should it be approved, the company said in a news release.
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