How did a formulation change, turn a life saving drug into a poison? How did tragedy push US lawmakers into passing a new act to regulate Food, Drugs, and Cosmetics? Historian Vanessa Burrows with the FDA joins us to share the story of Elixir Sulfanilamide and the FD&C Act of 1938. This is a story of what can go wrong when morality, science, and businesses are done wrong.

To learn more about the FDA's history check out these sites:
 
www.fda.gov/history

Frances Kelsey’s oral history 

Elixir sulfanilamide sample bottle

Oral Histories 

Video blogs

A synopsis of the Elixir Sulfanilamide tragedy