Wonder Drug

Frances Kelsey, an FDA reviewer, faced a pivotal moment in 1960 when she uncovered the severe birth defects caused by the sedative Kevadon (thalidomide), which was falsely marketed as safe. Despite its approval in many countries, Kelsey, supported by doctors and journalists, fought against its American manufacturer and its German origins. This struggle highlighted the conflict between consumer protection and corporate interests. Vanderbes reveals that, despite Kelsey's resistance, millions of pills were distributed in the U.S., impacting countless patients, including pregnant women, for years.