Between 1956 and 1962, more than 10,000 children were born with wide ranging birth defects; a consequence of their mothers having taken a new "wonder drug"; Thalidomide, promoted as an effective and safe treatment for morning sickness.

Thalidomide proved to be far from safe. The drug company, Grunenthal, had only carried out their studies on one animal model, mice, and had not tested their new drug on pregnant women.

The Thalidomide Disaster affected many thousands of lives and is thought to have been responsible for countless miscarriages. However, in the wake of the scandal, our relationship with drugs and the companies that manufactured those drugs was forever changed.

The Thalidomide Scandal paved the way for drug reform (including the 1963 Kefauver Harris Amendment in the United States and the 1968 Medicines Act in the UK) and is the primary reason why the medications available to us today are well regulated, safe and effective.

Watch my video to find out why the Thalidomide Disaster happened and why it was allowed to continue for as long as it did, how Thalidomide results in birth defects and congenital anomalies and how new laws and regulations resulted in much needed reform.

Happy Viewing!

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REFERENCES
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/f...
https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/13/5/95

https://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/obje...
https://helix.northwestern.edu/articl...
https://embryo.asu.edu/pages/us-regul...
...

Chapters
0:00 Part I - The Thalidomide Disaster & How It All Started?
2:42 Interlude & Video Summary
3:28 Part II - Why Did The Thalidomide Disaster Continue For SO LONG?
6:17 Part III - Reform.
8:06 Goodbye & Subscribe

#Thalidomide #ThalidomideBabies #ThalidomideScandal #Contergan