[BostonEnginerd]

"The US FDA refused to approve thalidomide for marketing and distribution. However, the drug was distributed in large quantities for testing purposes, after the American distributor and manufacturer Richardson-Merrell had applied for its approval in September 1960.[citation needed] The official in charge of the FDA review, Frances Oldham Kelsey, did not rely on information from the company, which did not include any test results. Richardson-Merrell was called on to perform tests and report the results. The company demanded approval six times, and was refused each time. Nevertheless, a total of 17 children with thalidomide-induced malformations were born in the US. Oldham Kelsey was given a Presidential award for distinguished service from the federal government for not allowing thalidomide to be approved for sale in the US.[42] "

Although not perfect, the FDA seemed to do the right thing in the case of Thalidomide.

[alistairSH]

Yeah, it was a bigger problem in other countries. Point still stands - the Thalidomide birth defect crisis was largely a result of poor regulation for pharmaceuticals.