Costco to Stop Selling Abortion Pill Mifepristone at US Pharmacies, Citing Low Demand
Costco Wholesale announced on Thursday it will stop selling the abortion pill mifepristone at all of its U.S. pharmacy locations, citing a lack of demand.
“Our position not to sell mifepristone, which has not changed, is based on the low demand from our members and other patients, who typically receive the medication from their healthcare providers,” Costco said. The change will affect more than 500 Costco pharmacy stores across the United States.
The decision comes amid growing campaigns by religious activist groups, including Inspire Investing and Alliance Defending Freedom, aimed at pressuring retailers to stop selling the pill.
According to CFRA senior analyst Arun Sundaram, many retailers have grown more cautious about taking overt political or social stances following recent boycotts, negative media coverage, and polarized consumer reactions.
Bloomberg reported that these religious activist groups, which targeted Costco, Kroger, Walmart, and Albertsons last year, will now focus on Walgreens and CVS Health. Walgreens continues to dispense mifepristone in states where abortion remains legal, following U.S. Supreme Court guidance and FDA rules.
Kroger stated it is reviewing the FDA’s updated mifepristone Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS), while CVS confirmed it fills prescriptions in select states where it is legally permitted.
Mifepristone, approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2000 for use with misoprostol, is prescribed to end pregnancies within the first 10 weeks of gestation. Mifepristone works by blocking progesterone, a hormone essential for maintaining the uterine lining, while misoprostol is taken afterward to complete the abortion process.
Danco Laboratories, the manufacturer of the mifepristone-misoprostol regimen, did not respond to requests for comment. Walmart also declined to comment.
