Thalidomide

Thalidomide – the sleeping pill

Thalidomide was first synthesized in West Germany in 1953 by Chemie Grünenthal. It was hailed as a "wonder drug" that provided a "safe, sound sleep".

However the drug was also found to cure morning sickness in pregnant women

Nausea vomiting in pregnancy NVP – 1 st trimester...(1/3)

Foetal development - The first few weeks are a key period – any problems now will accumulate in the future

Nausea vomiting in pregnancy NVP – 1 st trimester (1/3) When do you think most women would be inclined to take this drug?

Side effects unfortunately molecules of the thalidomide chemical crossed the placenta and disrupt the growth patterns of the growing foetus

Effect = catastrophic deformations of the baby– best seen as limb abnormalities.

…if this was you – how would your life be different?

The Human Cost About babies were born with birth defects before doctors found out that thalidomide affected developing fetuses. The drug was then banned. The original tests on rats hadn’t shown up any birth defects. Later tests on rabbits and monkeys did.

Why did this happen? Simple - the drug was not trialled or tested for this use on pregnant women

When new drugs are devised, they have to be extensively tested and trialled.

Thalidomide today Initially the drug was banned internationally for the treatment of morning sickness But it has now been reintroduced as a treatment for leprosy

Leprosy – bacterial infection of the skin and nerves endings Affects the hands, feet and features of the face.

Leprosy

Current thalidomide research In 1965, an Israeli doctor used thalidomide as a sedative to help a leprosy patient with a painful and inflamed infection. It was succesful. Doctors are now researching thalidomide as a treatment for cancer because : It can treat inflammation, It slows down the growth of blood vessels.

Make key notes on what we have discussed on this drug Initial use What it was discovered to help Side effects of untested use What is it now used for