"Talidomidnye children" - people born with deformities because their mothers receiving thalidomide

"Talidomidnaya catastrophe" - the most striking example of the consequences in the history of the reception of untested medicines.

In 1954, a German pharmaceutical company «Chemie Grünenthal» develop drugs based on antibiotics from peptides and called it "Thalidomide". Initially it was assumed that the drug will be inexpensive and effective anticonvulsants, however, in clinical trials it was found out that the anticonvulsant effect it does not have, but it is a great sedative and hypnotic drug.



Physicians around the world have been impressed by the action of thalidomide. During the test drug in animals, particularly mice, the drug proved very best and showed no side effects. Representatives of the manufacturer rests on the fact that thalidomide is completely safe and cheap to manufacture, making it possible to obtain a license to manufacture and distribute the drug.



In 1957, the drug was released for sale in Germany, and by 1958 the ninth year has already produced and sold in 45 countries under 37 different names. No additional studies in any of these countries was conducted. Since August 1958, the first year thalidomide became advertised as "the best medicine for pregnant and nursing mothers" of prenatal anxiety and toxicity.



December 25, 1956 in the family of a member of the «Chemie Grünenthal» daughter was born without ears. The man gave his pregnant wife thalidomide, which took on the job. This fact is no one paid much attention, but already by 1961 the ninth year the number of babies are born with congenital deformities has increased to such an extent that the German pediatrician Hans-Rudolf Wiedemann called it "an epidemic».



Further investigation and the courts have identified the extremely negative consequences of the use of thalidomide for pregnant women: the drug literally mutilated embryo, affecting both the external and the internal organs. 40% "talidomidnyh children" did not live up to their 1st birthday. Those who survived are distinguished by different external defects, the most common are: the complete absence or severe underdevelopment of the hands, feet, ears, eyes, underdeveloped facial muscles. During the period from 1956 to 1962, the first year all over the world (Germany, France, UK, USA, Japan and others) were born from 8000 to 12000 "talidomidnyh children" whose bodies permanently maimed because of the negligence and greed of pharmaceutical companies.

Currently, thalidomide is used to treat leprosy, multiple myeloma and other serious cancers.



via factroom.ru