Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health: The INFO Project

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Dr. Jim Shelton's Pearls "Pearl" for the week of January 26, 2005

FDA Approval of SC Depo-Provera

I remember you did a Pearl on a new formulation of the injectable contraceptive Depo-Provera for subcutaneous (SC) injection. Can you please tell me what is its current status?

It was approved by the FDA in December 2004 under the name depo-subQ provera 104. (The 104 refers to the 104 mg of active ingredient, MPA.) Interestingly, it will only be provided in a "pre-filled" single-use syringe and with a small needle appropriate for SC injection. It is expected to be "launched" or marketed in the U.S. sometime this year (2005).

Note: The SC formulation and the current IM formulation are different formulations. The IM version is not appropriate for SC use and vice versa.

The "Pearls" offer answers to commonly asked questions about family planning. These "Pearls" are prepared by Dr. James D. Shelton, Senior Medical Scientist, Office of Population, United States Agency for International Development (USAID)

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