Teva Pharmaceutical Industries has received EU approval for its new oral contraceptive tablet, Zoely.

Zoely contains a monophasic combination of two steroid hormones, 17-beta estradiol and nomegestrol acetate.

The tablet will be made available in a 24-day active and four-day placebo dosing regimen.

Teva holds marketing rights for Zoely in France, Italy, Belgium and Spain and expects the first launch in 2011.

The approval applies to the 27 EU member states plus Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein.