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Newsweek
4 days ago
- Business
- Newsweek
Costco Will Not Sell Abortion Pill
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Costco has announced that it will not sell mifepristone abortion pills at its U.S. pharmacies, citing a lack of consumer demand. The decision follows a campaign from religious groups, including the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) and Inspire Investing, to persuade major retailers not to stock abortion tablets. Newsweek contacted Costco and the ADF for comment via online inquiry form and Inspire Investing by email for comment on Friday outside regular office hours. Why It Matters In June 2022, the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, concluding that abortion access was not a constitutional right. But Americans across the country continue to fight a fierce battle over abortion access. Anti-abortion campaigners have sought to restrict access to mifepristone and other abortion treatments that women in states with near total abortion bans can receive in the mail from more permissive states. What To Know In a statement sent to Reuters this week, Costco said: "Our position at this time not to sell mifepristone, which has not changed, is based on the lack of demand from our members and other patients, who we understand generally have the drug dispensed by their medical providers." Costco was one of several retailers targeted by Christian groups campaigning against the in-store sale of mifepristone. In addition to the Christian advocacy group ADF and Inspire Investing, which calls for "biblically responsible investing," the coalition includes officials from Republican states such as Texas, Utah, Nevada and Ohio. When contacted by Bloomberg, Costco declined to comment on whether its decision was influenced by campaigning from the Christian coalition. Packages of mifepristone tablets at a family planning clinic in Rockville, Maryland, on April 13, 2023. Packages of mifepristone tablets at a family planning clinic in Rockville, Maryland, on April 13, 2023. Anna Moneymaker/GETTY Mifepristone was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2000 for the termination of pregnancy within 10 weeks of gestation, in combination with misoprostol. It works by blocking the body from creating progesterone, a hormone involved in lining the uterus when a woman is pregnant. In July, a federal district court issued a preliminary injunction blocking part of President Donald Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which restricts Medicaid funding to health care providers that conduct abortions and receive at least $800,000 in federal reimbursements. Planned Parenthood said the move could result in almost 200 of its centers closing. What People Are Saying Michael Ross, legal counsel at the Alliance Defending Freedom, told Newsweek: "We applaud Costco for doing the right thing by its shareholders and resisting activist calls to sell abortion drugs. Retailers like Costco keep their doors open by selling a lifetime of purchases to families, both large and small. They have nothing to gain and much to lose by becoming abortion dispensaries. "Retail pharmacies exist to serve the health and wellness of their customers, but abortion drugs like mifepristone undermine that mission by putting women's health at risk. We're honored to work alongside the many like-minded partners who made this moment possible—including Inspire Investing and public officials like state financial officers, who put the deeply held values and fiduciary needs of their clients first and simply call upon the companies they own to do the same." New York City Comptroller Brad Lander told Bloomberg: "Costco's decision to refuse to dispense mifepristone is disappointing and short-sighted. Failure to provide access to proven safe and FDA-approved medication under the guise of 'weak demand' risks isolating customers and undermines the company's credibility." Tim Schwarzenberger, the director of corporate engagement at Inspire Investing, told Bloomberg: "We have this momentum. Now there is a chance to turn to some of the other retailers." What Happens Next According to Bloomberg, the Christian coalition intends to continue its campaign to prevent retailers from selling mifepristone.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Costco to not sell abortion pill mifepristone at its US pharmacy stores (Aug. 14)
(Corrects headline and paragraph 1 to say that Costco will "not sell" mifepristone, not "stop selling" the pill; removes reference to "stopping sale" in paragraph 2) (Reuters) -Costco Wholesale said on Thursday it has decided to not sell abortion pill mifepristone across all its U.S. pharmacy stores, citing low demand. "Our position at this time not to sell mifepristone, which has not changed, is based on the lack of demand from our members and other patients, who we understand generally have the drug dispensed by their medical providers," Costco said. The decision comes amid campaigns against the pill by religious activist groups, including Inspire Investing and Alliance Defending Freedom. "Many retailers have become more cautious about taking overt political or social stances after recent controversies triggered boycotts, negative media coverage, and polarized consumer reactions," said Arun Sundaram, senior analyst at CFRA. Bloomberg reported earlier in the day that religious activist groups, which targeted retailers including Costco, Kroger, Walmart and Albertsons last year, will now focus on Walgreens and CVS Health that dispense the pill in states where abortion is legal. "The U.S. Supreme Court's ruling on mifepristone access allows Walgreens to continue to dispense mifepristone under the FDA guidelines," Walgreens' website states. Kroger said it was reviewing the FDA's updated mifepristone Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) drug safety program, while CVS told Reuters that it fills "prescriptions for mifepristone in select states where legally permissible." Mifepristone was approved in combination with misoprostol in 2000 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to end a pregnancy within 10 weeks of gestation. Mifepristone blocks progesterone, the hormone that helps a woman's body maintain the lining of the uterus during pregnancy. Misoprostol is then taken to complete the abortion process. Danco Laboratories, which manufactures the abortion pill regimen, did not respond to a Reuters request for comment, while Walmart declined to comment. Sign in to access your portfolio
Reuters
4 days ago
- Health
- Reuters
Costco to not sell abortion pill mifepristone at its US pharmacy stores (Aug. 14)
Aug 14 (Reuters) - Costco Wholesale (COST.O), opens new tab said on Thursday it has decided to not sell abortion pill mifepristone across all its U.S. pharmacy stores, citing low demand. "Our position at this time not to sell mifepristone, which has not changed, is based on the lack of demand from our members and other patients, who we understand generally have the drug dispensed by their medical providers," Costco said. The decision comes amid campaigns against the pill by religious activist groups, including Inspire Investing and Alliance Defending Freedom. "Many retailers have become more cautious about taking overt political or social stances after recent controversies triggered boycotts, negative media coverage, and polarized consumer reactions," said Arun Sundaram, senior analyst at CFRA. Bloomberg reported earlier in the day that religious activist groups, which targeted retailers including Costco, Kroger (KR.N), opens new tab, Walmart (WMT.N), opens new tab and Albertsons (ACI.N), opens new tab last year, will now focus on Walgreens (WBA.O), opens new tab and CVS Health (CVS.N), opens new tab that dispense the pill in states where abortion is legal. "The U.S. Supreme Court's ruling on mifepristone access allows Walgreens to continue to dispense mifepristone under the FDA guidelines," Walgreens' website states. Kroger said it was reviewing the FDA's updated mifepristone Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) drug safety program, while CVS told Reuters that it fills "prescriptions for mifepristone in select states where legally permissible." Mifepristone was approved in combination with misoprostol in 2000 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to end a pregnancy within 10 weeks of gestation. Mifepristone blocks progesterone, the hormone that helps a woman's body maintain the lining of the uterus during pregnancy. Misoprostol is then taken to complete the abortion process. Danco Laboratories, which manufactures the abortion pill regimen, did not respond to a Reuters request for comment, while Walmart declined to comment.
Reuters
4 days ago
- Business
- Reuters
Costco to stop selling abortion pill mifepristone at its US pharmacy stores
Aug 14 (Reuters) - Costco Wholesale (COST.O), opens new tab said on Thursday it will stop selling abortion pill mifepristone across all its U.S. pharmacy stores, citing low demand. "Our position at this time not to sell mifepristone, which has not changed, is based on the lack of demand from our members and other patients, who we understand generally have the drug dispensed by their medical providers," Costco said, adding that it will stop the sale at its more than 500 pharmacies. The decision comes amid campaigns against the pill by religious activist groups, including Inspire Investing and Alliance Defending Freedom. "Many retailers have become more cautious about taking overt political or social stances after recent controversies triggered boycotts, negative media coverage, and polarized consumer reactions," said Arun Sundaram, senior analyst at CFRA. Bloomberg reported earlier in the day that religious activist groups, which targeted retailers including Costco, Kroger (KR.N), opens new tab, Walmart (WMT.N), opens new tab and Albertsons (ACI.N), opens new tab last year, will now focus on Walgreens (WBA.O), opens new tab and CVS Health (CVS.N), opens new tab that dispense the pill in states where abortion is legal. "The U.S. Supreme Court's ruling on mifepristone access allows Walgreens to continue to dispense mifepristone under the FDA guidelines," Walgreens' website states. Kroger said it was reviewing the FDA's updated mifepristone Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) drug safety program, while CVS told Reuters that it fills "prescriptions for mifepristone in select states where legally permissible." Mifepristone was approved in combination with misoprostol in 2000 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to end a pregnancy within 10 weeks of gestation. Mifepristone blocks progesterone, the hormone that helps a woman's body maintain the lining of the uterus during pregnancy. Misoprostol is then taken to complete the abortion process. Danco Laboratories, which manufactures the abortion pill regimen, did not respond to a Reuters request for comment, while Walmart declined to comment.
Bloomberg
5 days ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
Costco Won't Sell Abortion Pill as Religious Investors Declare Win
Costco Wholesale Corp. has decided not to dispense the abortion pill mifepristone at its more than 500 pharmacy locations, a decision hailed by a group of faith-based activists who urged the retailer to avoid selling the drug. Costco said in a statement that it hasn't seen consumer demand for the pill, and had no comment on whether the conservative group had any role in its decision. The religious coalition includes Idaho-based Inspire Investing; conservative activist organization Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF); and treasurers and other financial officials from states such as Ohio, Texas, Nevada and Utah. Last year, the group had asked the company to not begin selling the medication. 'It's a very significant win and it's one we hope to build on this coming year,' said Michael Ross, legal counsel for the corporate engagement team at ADF.
