This hour-long program for The History Channel’s History Undercover strand tells the story of Elixir Sulfanilamide, the first syrup form of the early antibiotic sulfanilamide. The solvent–a form of anti-freeze called diethylene glycol–was a known poison, but U.S. law at the time did not require drug manufacturers to conduct safety tests. When Elixir was distributed in 1937, it  set off a frantic nationwide search by the FDA to round up what remained of the drug. Over 100 people died. As a result of this disaster, Congress mandated safety testing for all new drugs.

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