Actavis seeks FDA approval for contraceptive patch

PARSIPPANY, N.J. — The Food and Drug Administration will review an experimental contraceptive patch made by Actavis, the drug maker said Tuesday.

Actavis said the FDA accepted for review its application for norethindrone transdermal delivery system. The patch, which does not yet have a brand name, is designed to provide continuous delivery of norethindrone during a once-weekly, seven-day dosing regimen.

The company said once-weekly dosing with the patch may improve compliance and convenience in progestin-only contraceptive users and provide more consistent average levels of norethindrone in the plasma than pills.