Following the decision to make the morning-after pill an over-the-counter drug, available to all ages without a prescription, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Teva Pharmaceuticals exclusive marketing rights to Plan B One-Step, the New York Times reported.

Manufacturers of generic versions, which sell for $10 to $15 less than Plan B's retail price of $50, can also apply for the right to sell the drug; however, they will not be able to sell it over-the-counter until Teva's exclusive three-year deal ends.

According to its website, Plan B was the subject of an online survey between May and June 2012, during which 300 OB/GYNs were asked which emergency contraceptive brand they would recommend to a patient. A total of 290 respondents identified Plan B as their emergency contraceptive of choice.

The single dose 1.5 mg tablet is considered most effective when taken within three days of unprotected sex. It was first approved for use without a prescription back in June 2009, but only to women ages 17 and older.

"Over-the-counter access to emergency contraceptive products has the potential to further decrease the rate of unintended pregnancies in the United States," said Janet Woodcock, M.D., director of the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.

Both the FDA and Plan B warn consumers that the drug cannot terminate an existing pregnancy or protect against sexually transmitted infections. Health professionals also inform women to seek advice from their doctor before considering any type of contraception.