National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month was established
On Nov. 19, 1999, National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month was established with a declaration by the U.S. Senate,…
The FDA approved LASIK corrective eye surgery
On Nov. 15, 1999, the FDA approved LASIK corrective eye surgery. LASIK stands for Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis…
Roche received FDA approval of TAMIFLU, first pill to treat most common strains of influenza (A&B)
On Oct. 27, 1999, Hoffmann-La Roche and Gilead Sciences announced that Roche’s TAMIFLU (oseltamivir phosphate) had been approved…
Neuraminidase inhibitors Tamiflu and Relenza were licensed to treat influenza infection
On Oct. 27, 1999, Hoffmann-La Roche and Gilead Sciences announced that Roche’s TAMIFLU™ (oseltamivir phosphate) has been approved…
ACIP voted to withdraw their recommendation for rotavirus vaccine
On Oct. 22, 1999, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), after a review of scientific data from…
Wyeth Lederle Vaccines voluntarily withdrew Rotashield from the market
On Oct. 15, 1999, Wyeth-Lederle Vaccines announced that it was withdrawing the Rotashield vaccine from the market and…
The Institute for Systems Biology was founded in Seattle
On Oct. 12, 1999, the Institute for Systems Biology (ISB) was founded in Seattle by Alan Aderem, Ruedi…
The National Cancer Institute awarded nearly $8 million in grants toward Early Detection Research Network
On Nov. 23, 199, the National Cancer Institute awarded nearly $8 million in grants toward the creation of…
The Buck Institute for Research on Aging opened its doors
On Sept. 30, 1999, the Buck Institute for Research on Aging, named for Marin County philanthropists Leonard and…
Scientists Create Smart Mouse
On Sept. 1, 1999, Princeton University researchers reported that they had genetically modified mice to have improved learning…
Dr. Ute Hochgeswender at the OMRF and Dr. Miles Brennan from the Eleanor Roosevelt institute designed genetically engineered mice
On Aug. 30, 1999, Dr. Ute Hochgeswender, Development Biology Research Program from the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation (OMRF)…
FDA approved a 2-dose schedule of hepatitis B vaccination for adolescents
On Aug. 29, 1999, Merck, West Point, Pennsylvania) received approval from the FDA of a supplement to Merck’s…
Stanford researchers discovered a genetic mutation that causes narcolepsy
On Aug. 11, 1999, researchers led by Stanford’s Emmanuel Mignot, MD, PhD, associate professor of psychiatry, used a…
The CDC identified and responded to West Nile Virus in New York City
In August 1999, an outbreak of encephalitis caused by West Nile virus (WNV) was detected in New York…
Gilead Sciences and NeXstar Pharmaceuticals announced completion of their merger
On Jul. 29, 1999, Gilead Sciences and NeXstar Pharmaceuticals announced the closing of their agreement whereby Gilead acquired…
The University of Southern California received a $110 million gift and was renamed the Keck School of Medicine
On Jul. 29, 1999, the University of Southern California (USC) announced that it had received a gift of…
Eli Lilly and Company’s Effient approved by the FDA for the reduction of thrombotic cardiovascular events
On Jul. 11, 1999, Daiichi Sankyo and Eli Lilly announced the FDA approved Effientﾙ(prasugrel) tablets for the reduction…
BIO’99 in Seattle attracted more than 5,700 attendees with nearly thirty percent from outside the US
In Jul. 1999, the Biotechnology Industry Organization held BIO’99 in Seattle and the event attracted more than 5,700…
The Fitzsimons Redevelopment Authority was created
On Jun. 30, 1999, Fitzsimons Redevelopment Authority (FRA) announced that the former Fitzsimons Army Medical Center had been…
Biotechnology | CDC | Infectious Disease | Polio | Vaccine
ACIP recommended exclusive use of inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV) for infants and children
On Jun. 17, 1999, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Immunization Practices Advisory Committee (ACIP)…
The Dale and Betty Bumpers Vaccine Research Center was established
On Jun. 9, 1999, the Dale and Betty Bumpers Vaccine Research Center (VRC) was established at the National…
NeoPath merged with AutoCyte to create TriPath Imaging
On Jun. 7, 1999, NeoPath merged with AutoCyte to form TriPath Imaging based in Burlington, N.C. NeoPath was…
The Study of Tamoxifen and Raloxifene began recruiting volunteers
On May 25, 1999. the Study of Tamoxifen and Raloxifene, or STAR, one of the largest breast cancer…
George Rathmann was named the first recipient of the Biotechnology Heritage Award
On May 17, 1999, George Rathmann, Chair of Bothell-based ICOS Corp. and Chair Emeritus of Amgen, was named…
A pandemic planning framework was published by the World Health Organization
In April 1999, a pandemic planning framework was published by the World Health Organization (WHO) that emphasized the…
The Tennessee Biotechnology Association was established
On Apr. 15, 1999, the Tennessee Biotechnology Association (TBA), now the Life Science Tennessee, was established. The Tennessee…
The Priestley Medal was awarded to Ronald Breslow
In 1999, the American Chemical Society awarded the Priestley Medal to Ronald Breslow ‘for his numerous contributions to…
ZymoGenetics was instrumental in development of new hemophilia drug
On Mar. 27, 1999, Novo Nordisk, the ZymoGenetics parent company, announced approval of NovoSeven by the Food and…
Rule publication defined dietary supplements labeling
On Mar. 23, 1999, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a rule publication that defined dietary supplements…
The FDA mandated OTC drugs labels contain information in a standardized, consumer-friendly format
On Mar. 17, 1999, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published a regulation mandating that labels of all…