Stella Hopper-Gramenz
This podcast is about the controversial history of the abortion pill (RU-486) and the process for how it became legal in the United States. Stella Hopper-Gramenz discusses why abortion pills are so expensive, the role of patent law, and a predicted trajectory of costs in the future.
![This photograph shows different article titles: Abortion, Intimidation and Death, Pill Politics, Abortion Debate Takes a Pill, French Concern to Withdraw Abortion Pill, Abortion: A Vocal Minority Has Drugmakers Running Scared, Bridgewater firm shuns sales role for abortion-inducing drug, French Abortion-Inducing Drug Adds Twist to Medical Ethics Debates: Should Effective Treatments Always Be Released to the Public?](https://sites.smith.edu/swg150-fa22/wp-content/uploads/sites/836/2022/12/Screen-Shot-2022-12-05-at-5.05.27-PM-223x300.png)
Collage of 1980’s/’90’s Newspaper Clippings from Smith College Archives
![This photograph shows a crowd of protestors, and is focused on the main sign saying RU-486 now.](https://sites.smith.edu/swg150-fa22/wp-content/uploads/sites/836/2022/12/Screen-Shot-2022-12-05-at-4.46.13-PM-300x166.png)
Protests for Legalization of RU-486
![This photograph shows abortion activists holding up boxes that say abortion pills and a sign that says abortion is essential.](https://sites.smith.edu/swg150-fa22/wp-content/uploads/sites/836/2022/12/Screen-Shot-2022-12-06-at-10.15.00-AM-300x195.png)
Activists protesting Supreme Court after 2021 Mississippi Law that would ban abortion after 15 weeks
![This photograph shows an article titled RU-486: the unpregnancy pill](https://sites.smith.edu/swg150-fa22/wp-content/uploads/sites/836/2022/12/IMG_2556-1-225x300.jpg)
1987 Ms. Magazine article discussing the controversy surrounding RU-486