U.S. Supreme Court ruled that naturally occurring DNA cannot be patented
On Jun. 13, 2013, the U.S. Supreme Court Justices ruled 9-0 that naturally occurring DNA cannot be patented,…
US Supreme Court lifted a nationwide ban on cultivation of biotech alfalfa
On Jun. 21, 2010, the U.S. Supreme Court lifted a nationwide ban on cultivation of biotech alfalfa by…
Disease | FDA | Oncology | U.S. Congress
The Supreme Court ruled the FDA does not have authority to regulate tobacco as a drug
On Mar. 21, 2000, the Supreme Court ruled 5 to 4 along ideological lines, that the U.S. Food…
FDA declared cigarettes to be “drug delivery devices”
In 1995, the FDA declared cigarettes to be “drug delivery devices.” Restrictions were proposed on marketing and sales…
The California Supreme Court ruled that a patient does not have rights to profits derived from his cell line
In 1990, the California Supreme Court rules in the case involving Seattle’s John Moore that a patient does…
Hoeschst blocked from completing a Frankfurt plant for the production of genetically engineered human insulin
In 1989, the Administrative Supreme Court of the state of Hesse, West Germany, blocks the multinational chemical company…
U.S. Supreme Court ruled on Diamond v Chakrabarty
On Jun. 16, 1980, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld five-to-four the patentability of genetically altered organisms, opening the…
The Diamond v Chakrabarty case argued before U.S. Supreme Court
On Mar. 17, 1980, Ananda Mohan Chakrabarty filed a patent application assigned to the General Electric Co. for…
U.S. Supreme Court upheld 1962 drug effectiveness law and endorsed FDA action to control products by regulation
On Jun. 18, 1973, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the 1962 drug effectiveness law and endorsed Food and…
Tennessee Governor signed a law that repealed the prohibition of teaching evolution
On May 18, 1967, Tennessee Governor Buford Ellington signed a law that repealed the prohibition of teaching evolution…
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…
The Supreme Court ruled responsible officials of a corporation may be prosecuted for violations
In 1943, U.S. v. Dotterweich, the Supreme Court ruled that the responsible officials of a corporation, as well…
Charles Darwin & the Scopes “Monkey Trial” concluded
On Jul. 21, 1925, the Scopes Trial concluded with the jury finding John Stopes guilty. One year later,…
Teaching of evolution prohibited in state-funded Tennessee schools
On Mar. 21, 1925, Tennessee Governor Austin Peay signed the Butler Act (Tenn. HB 185, 1925) which prohibited…
FDA | Life Science History | Medicine | USDA
The Supreme Court ruled that the Food and Drugs Act condemned every statement on a product’s label that may mislead or deceive
On Jun. 2, 1924, in U.S. v. 95 Barrels Alleged Apple Cider Vinegar, the Supreme Court ruled that…
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled the Sherley Amendment to the Pure Food and Drugs Act was constitutional
On Jan. 10, 1916, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled the Sherley Amendment to the Pure Food and Drugs…
In U.S. vs. Lexington Mill and Elevator Company, the Supreme Court issued its first ruling on food additives
On Feb. 24, 1914, the U.S. Supreme Court issued, in U.S. v. Lexington Mill and Elevator Company, its…
Congress enacted the Sherley Amendment to over come the ruling in US v Johnson
In 1912, U.S. Congress enacted the Sherley Amendment in 1912 to overcome the 1910 ruling in U.S. v….
Biology | Diagnostics | FDA | Life Science History | Medical Device | NIH | Nutraceuticals | Oncology | Pharmaceutical | Stem Cell | U.S. Congress | Women's Health
The Supreme Court ruled the 1906 Pure Food and Drugs Act does not prohibit false therapeutic claims
On May 29, 1911, in U.S. v. Johnson, the Supreme Court ruled that the 1906 Pure Food and…
The Bureau of Chemistry seized a worthless product called Johnson’s Mild Combination Treatment for Cancer
On Apr. 13, 1911, U.S. v. Johnson, the Supreme Court ruled against the government, finding that the product’s…
In Jacobson v. Massachusetts, 197 U.S. 11, the Supreme Court argued the Case on compulsory vaccination
On Dec. 6, 1904, the U.S. Supreme Court argued the case requiring a compulsory vaccination law. The Court…
U.S. Congress passed The Margarine Act of 1886
On Aug. 2. 1886, the U.S. Congress passed the Oleomargarine Act which among other things, directed the Secretary…