Congress authorized the SEC to conduct a study of fragmentation in the OTC market
In September 1961, U. S. Congress authorized the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to conduct a study of…
External D & C No 15 cleared for uses outside the body
On Jan. 10, 1961, External D&C No. 15, a red color additive widely used in cosmetics before it…
Last remaining source of the Hoxsey cancer treatment was eliminated by a federal court order
On Sept. 21, 1960, FDA officials announced the last remaining major source of the discredited Hoxsey cancer treatment…
Federal Hazardous Substances Labeling Act required prominent label warnings on hazardous household chemical products
On Jul. 12, 1960, President Dwight D. Eisenhower approved the Federal Hazardous Substances Labeling Act (FHSA), enforced by…
The FDA approved Enovid as the first oral contraceptive available in the US
In May 1960, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Enovid as the first oral contraceptive available…
Cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan) was approved by the FDA
On Nov. 16, 1959, Cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan), an alkylating agent designed to improve the selectivity of cancer drugs, was…
A Thanksgiving holiday cranberry crisis was averted
On Nov. 9, 1959, at the instruction of Arthur S. Flemming, the Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare,…
Basic amphetamine nasal inhalers become available only by prescription
On Feb. 10, 1959, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that nasal inhalers containing basic amphetamine can…
The first antiviral drug was developed at Yale
In 1959, William Prusoff of Yale University discovered idoxuridine, the first effective antiviral that fights herpes by interfering…
Biotechnology | Chemical | FDA | Therapeutics
FDA published list of nearly 200 “Substances Generally Recognized as Safe” (GRAS)
On Dec. 9, 1958, the U.S. Congress enacted the Food Additives Amendment to the Federal Food, Drug, and…
Food Additives Amendments were passed
On Sept. 6, 1958, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Food Additives Amendments were passed, requiring that…
The first Thalidomide birth occurred in Germany
On Dec. 25, 1956, the first Thalidomide birth occurred in Germany. Thalidomide, a new sleeping pill developed by…
FDA hired temporary investigators to prevent polio vaccine black market
On Aug. 17, 1955, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the hiring of 48 temporary investigators…
The first Citizens Advisory Committee held a meeting in Washington, DC
On Feb. 3, 1955, the first Citizens Advisory Committee met in Washington, D.C. to assess the effectiveness of…
FDA | Life Science History | NIH | Polio | U.S. Congress
HEW Secretary Oveta Culp Hobby appointed a committee of 14 citizens to study the adequacy of FDA’s facilities and programs
In 1955, Oveta Culp Hobby, the first Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare (HEW) appointed a committee of…
Hydroxychloroquine was approved for medical use in the United States
In 1955, Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) was approved for medical use in the U.S. Chloroquine was discovered in 1934 by…
George P Larrick becomes Commissioner of Food and Drugs
On Aug. 12, 1954, George P. Larrick becomes Commissioner of Food and Drugs. In 1937, he was responsible…
First large-scale radiological examination of food carried out by FDA
In 1954, first large-scale radiological examination of food carried out by U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) when…
The FDA approved methotrexate, an antimetabolite derived from folic acid, and 6-mercaptopurine as anticancer drugs
On Dec. 7, 1953, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved methotrexate, an antimetabolite derived from folic…
Factory Inspection Amendment required FDA to give manufacturers written reports of conditions observed during inspections
In 1953, the U.S. Congress enacted the Factory Inspection Amendment which clarified previous law and required the U.S….
The Supreme Court ruled the factory inspection provision of the 1938 FDC Act was too vague to be enforced
On Dec. 8, 1952, in U.S. v. Cardiff, the Supreme Court ruled that the factory inspection provision of…
FDA consumer consultants appointed in each field district to maintain communications with consumers
In November, 1952, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) consumer consultants were appointed in each field district to…
FDA | Life Science History | Polio | Vaccine
Dr. William Hammon conducted the first placebo-controlled field trial of gamma globulin in Provo, Utah
In September 1952, Dr. William Hammon conducted the first placebo-controlled field trial of gamma globulin that, in just…
Disease | FDA | Life Science History | Medicine | Oncology | Pharmaceutical | Radiology
Alfred Hershey and Martha Chase verified genes were made of DNA
In 1952, Alfred Hershey and Martha Chase conducted a series of experiments at the Carnegie Institute of Washington…
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the use of antibiotics on animals
In 1951, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the use of antibiotics on animals. In 1943, farmers…
The FDA approved nitrogen mustard (mechlorethamine) to kill cancer cells
In 1949, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved nitrogen mustard to kill cancer cells. The major use…
FDA published guidance to industry known as the “black book”
In 1949, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published guidance to industry for the first time. This guidance,…
CDC | FDA | Life Science History | Vaccine
Combination diphtheria and tetanus toxoids for pediatric use was first licensed in the U.S.
In 1947, a combination diphtheria and tetanus toxoids for pediatric use was first licensed in the U.S. After…
The Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation articles of incorporation were signed
On Aug. 3, 1946, the articles of incorporation were signed by Governor Roy J. Turner that established the…
Chemical | Dentistry | Diagnostics | Disease | Environmental | FDA | Life Science History | Therapeutics
fluoride First Used in U.S. Public water Supply
On Jan. 25, 1945, at 4:00 p.m., Grand Rapids, Michigan, achieved a historic milestone by becoming the inaugural…