Perhaps? Def "Glyphosate was first synthesized in 1950 by Swiss chemist Henry Martin, who worked for the Swiss company Cilag. The work was never published."
Cilag is a pharmaceutical company, hardly the company that any reasonable person thinks develops pipe cleaners or chemicals for pipe cleaning. Like many modern chemicals, it was likely discovered by experimentation and the ultimate uses were not known at the time. If you think otherwise, try pouring some down a clogged drain and see how well it works.