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…
FDA issued regulations to implement the Kefauver-Harris drug amendments
On Jun. 20, 1963, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced three sets of regulations governing “the…
CDC | Diagnostics | FDA | Infectious Disease | Life Science History | Therapeutics | USDA
The CDC, FDA, and USDA and all state health departments joined together to establish the Salmonella Surveillance Program
In 1963, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the…
Jere E Goyan, PhD, became commissioner of food and drugs
On Oct. 21, 1962, Jere E. Goyan, Ph.D., becomes commissioner of food and drugs. Goyan was the first…
The Kefauver-Harris Drug Amendments were signed into law
On Oct. 10, 1962, the Kefauver-Harris Drug Amendments were signed into law by President Kennedy. The Legislation was…
Thalidomide-caused birth defects lead to strengthened drug regulation
On Jul. 15, 1962, Thalidomide, a new sleeping pill developed by the German company Grunenthal, was found to…
The National Congress on Medical Quackery convened in Washington, DC
On Oct. 6, 1961, the National Congress on Medical Quackery convened in Washington, D.C. sponsored jointly by the…
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…
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…