U.S. FDA issued low-acid food processing regulations after botulism outbreaks from canned foods
On Feb. 17, 1973, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the recall of 29,500 institutional-size cans of…
Consumer Product Safety Commission was enacted by Congress
On Oct. 27, 1972, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSA) was enacted by the U.S. Congress. The CPSA…
Regulation of Biologics–including serums, vaccines, and blood products–was transferred from NIH to FDA
On Jul. 1, 1972, the Regulation of Biologics–including serums, vaccines, and blood products–was transferred from the NIH to…
The FDA began to regulate all 7,000 US blood and plasma centers
In 1972, the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) new Bureau of Biologics began to regulate all 7000 U.S….
The Division of Biologics Standards was transferred from NIH to FDA
In 1972, the Division of Biologics Standards was transferred from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to the U.S….
Artificial sweetener saccharin removed from FDA’s original GRAS list pending new scientific study
On Sept. 29, 1971, the artificial sweetener saccharin, included in FDA’s original GRAS list, was removed from the…
The Public Health Service’s Bureau of Radiological Health was transferred to the FDA
On May 17, 1971, The Public Health Service’s Bureau of Radiological Health was transferred to the FDA.
FDA | NIH | Radiology | Therapeutics
PHS Bureau of Radiological Health was transferred to FDA
In 1971, the Public Health Service (PHS) Bureau of Radiological Health was transferred to U.S. Food and Drug…
Court of Appeals ruled commercial success does not constitute substantial evidence of drug safety and efficacy
On Feb. 27, 1970, in Upjohn v. Finch the Court of Appeals upheld enforcement of the 1962 drug…
Biology | FDA | Women's Health
FDA required the first patient package insert: oral contraceptives must contain information for the patient about specific risks and benefits
In 1970, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) required the first patient package insert: oral contraceptives must contain…
Charles Edwards, MD, became FDA commissioner
On Dec. 13, 1969, Charles Edwards, M.D., becomes FDA commissioner.
The White House Conference on Food, Nutrition, and Health recommended systematic review of GRAS substances
On Dec. 2, 1969, the White House Conference on Food, Nutrition, and Health recommended systematic review of GRAS…
FDA issued report that declared birth control pills “safe”
On Sept. 4, 1969, the FDA issued a report that called birth control pills safe, despite a slight…
Agriculture | Biology | Diagnostics | Disease | FDA
FDA began administering Sanitation Programs for milk, shellfish, food service, and interstate travel facilities
In 1969, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) began administering Sanitation Programs for milk, shellfish, food service, and…
CDC | FDA | Infectious Disease | Life Science History | Measles | Vaccine
The CDC began a national rubella immunization campaign
In 1969, live, attenuated rubella vaccines were first licensed in the U.S., and a vaccination program was established…
A second live, further attenuated measles virus vaccine was licensed
On Nov. 26, 1968, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) licensed a second live, further attenuated measles…
FDA Bureau of Drug Abuse Control and Treasury Department Bureau of Narcotics were transferred to Dept of Justice
On Apr. 7, 1968, the FDA Bureau of Drug Abuse Control and Treasury Department Bureau of Narcotics were…
Reorganization of federal health programs placed FDA in the Public Health Service
In March 1968, a reorganization of federal health programs placed the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in…
FDA formed the Drug Efficacy Study Implementation
In 1968, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) formed the Drug Efficacy Study Implementation (DESI) to implement recommendations…
Medtronic annual sales skyrocketed to more than $12 million
In 1968, Medtronic annual sales skyrocketed to more than $12 million, with the company reporting net income in…
Mumps virus vaccine live (MumpsVax by Merck) was licensed
On Dec. 28, 1967, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Mercks mumps virus vaccine live (MumpsVax)….
Fair Packaging and Labeling Act required all consumer products in interstate commerce to be honestly and informatively labeled
In 1967 the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act (FPLA or Act), enacted by the U.S. Congress directs the…
Medtronic introduced two “on-demand” pacemakers
In 1967, Medtronic introduced two “on-demand” pacemakers, designed to avoid competition between paced beats and the patient’s own…
The Child Protection Act was passed by the U.S. Congress
On Nov. 3, 1966, the Child Protection Act was passed by the U.S. Congress. The bill enlarged the…
FDA | Life Science History | Medicine | NIH | Therapeutics | U.S. Congress
FDA contracted with National Academy of Sciences to evaluate effectiveness of drugs
In 1966, the Drug Efficacy Study of the National Research Council’s Division of Medical Sciences, which was tasked…
The FDA licensed amantadine, a new antiviral medication, as a prophylactic against influenza A
In 1966, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) licensed amantadine (marketed as Symmetrel) to Du Pont, a…
FDA requested help in removing “X-33 Water Repellent” from the market
On Aug. 30, 1964, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requested help in removing “X-33 Water Repellent”…
Biology | FDA | Life Science History | Medicine | Oncology | Therapeutics
The anticancer drug melphalan (L-PAM) was approved by the FDA
In 1964, the anticancer drug melphalan (L-PAM) was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Chemistry | FDA | HIV | Life Science History | Oncology
The anticancer drug Azidothymidine (AZT) was synthesized in Michigan Cancer Foundation’s chemistry lab
In 1964, the anticancer drug Azidothymidine (AZT) was synthesized in Michigan Cancer Foundation’s chemistry lab by Jerome Horwitz,…
The U.S. FDA approved vincristine, a sister drug to vinblastine
On Jul. 10, 1963, the U.S. FDA approved vincristine, a sister drug to vinblastine. The drug was established…