In December 2014, the FDA published the Content and Format of Labeling for Human Prescription Drug and Biological Products: Requirements for Pregnancy and Lactation Labeling, referred to as the “Pregnancy and Lactation Labeling Rule” (PLLR or final rule). This rule has changed the content and format for information presented in prescription drug labeling  to help health care providers in assessing benefit versus risk and the ensuing counseling of pregnant women and nursing mothers who need to take medication.   Most women take at least one medication during pregnancy and many pregnant women have chronic conditions—such as asthma, high blood pressure, and depression – that require them to continue taking medications that they were taking when not pregnant. Because pregnancy may exacerbate these conditions, stopping the medications due to fear of risk to the pregnancy may actually cause more harm than good.  Furthermore, a new section entitled Females and Males of Reproductive Potential was added to provide a consistent format and location for inclusion of relevant information for health care providers about pregnancy testing, contraception, and infertility.

What Will the New FDA Labeling Look Like?

The PLLR states the following

 If data demonstrate that a drug is not absorbed systemically, the “Risk Summary” must contain only a specified statement regarding this fact.  If data demonstrate that the drug is absorbed systemically, the “Risk Summary” must include risk statements based on data from all relevant sources (human, animal, and/or pharmacologic), that describe, for the drug, the risk of adverse developmental outcomes.
The labeling must also contain relevant information, if it is available, to help health care providers make prescribing decisions and counsel women about the use of the drug during pregnancy; this could include information on disease-associated maternal and/or embryo/fetal risk, dose adjustments during pregnancy and the postpartum period, maternal adverse reactions, fetal/neonatal adverse reactions, and/or the effect of the drug on labor or delivery.

The final rule went into effect June 30, 2015.  Therefore any drugs submitted to FDA after that date will be labeled using the new system. Drugs approved prior to that date may still use the older lettering system, but they too must have their labeling updated over the next few years.  Most important, the PLLR also requires the label to be updated when information becomes outdated.

FDA Pregnancy Categories to be Phased Out

Category A

Adequate and well-controlled studies have failed to demonstrate a risk to the fetus in the first trimester of pregnancy (and there is no evidence of risk in later trimesters).

Category B

Animal reproduction studies have failed to demonstrate a risk to the fetus and there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women.

Category C

Animal reproduction studies have shown an adverse effect on the fetus and there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in humans, but potential benefits may warrant use of the drug in pregnant women despite potential risks.

Category D

There is positive evidence of human fetal risk based on adverse reaction data from investigational or marketing experience or studies in humans, but potential benefits may warrant use of the drug in pregnant women despite potential risks.

Category X

Studies in animals or humans have demonstrated fetal abnormalities and/or there is positive evidence of human fetal risk based on adverse reaction data from investigational or marketing experience, and the risks involved in use of the drug in pregnant women clearly outweigh potential benefits.

Learn More

Pregnancy and Lactation Labeling (Drugs) Final Rule

The US FDA pregnancy lactation and labeling rule – Implications for maternal immunization

Old FDA Pregnancy Categories (A,B,C,D,X)

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