[13] Personal financial problems forced Vorhauer to sell the entire manufacturing operation to American Home Products, now Wyeth.
The sponge was removed from the U.S. market in 1994 after problems were found at the facility related to the deionized water system.
Based on slumping sales and to avoid any further FDA issues, Wyeth stopped selling the sponge rather than move production or modify its plant.
[14] New FDA standards for manufacturing and record-keeping forced repeated delays, but the Today sponge was finally re-introduced in Canada in March 2003, and in the U.S. in September 2005.
[20] This was later revisited in the series finale when the pharmacist testifies against Elaine for buying a case of sixty sponges.