Wyeth Contraceptive Approved

The Food and Drug Administration has approved Wyeth's(WYE Quote) Lybrel, the first oral contraceptive that eliminates a woman's monthly periods.

Clearance had been expected after the FDA recently said Wyeth's Puerto Rico manufacturing plant had corrected problems cited by the agency 12 months ago. Without the FDA signing off on the plant, Wyeth had been blocked from making new drugs there.

"The risks of using Lybrel are similar to the risks of other conventional oral contraceptives and include an increased risk of blood clots, heart attacks and strokes," the FDA said Tuesday afternoon. ...