A drug to help morning sickness that was withdrawn in 1961 after it was found to cause limb deformities in babies born to women who had taken it
A drug with a notorious past that is currently used to treat difficult lupus skin disease. Modern research is showing that this drug can also be useful in treating a number of other skin and internal diseases as well (e.g., Behcet's disease, severe aphthous ulcers in the mouth, pyoderma gangrenosum, multiple myeloma). Unfortunately, this drug was responsible for an epidemic of babies born without arms or legs when it was first introduced in Europe and Canada in the 1960s. Another side effect is its tendency to cause damage to nerves that supply sensation to the arms and legs (i.e. sensory neuropathy).
Drug used in the 50s and 60s to suppress the effects of morning sickness. It caused Birth Defects similar to TAR. Thalidomide Resources
An angiogenesis inhibitor drug being studied for the treatment of several cancers, including metastatic melanoma. The drug was used as a sedative and anti-nausea drug for pregnant women in the 1950s, but it caused severe birth defects. It was taken off the market until it was approved for treatment of leprosy in 1996. Thalidomide has relatively few serious side effects when not taken by pregnant women.
Oral immunomodulatory drug with multiple direct and indirect anti-myeloma effects. Thalidomide has been shown to be active in newly-diagnosed and relapsed, refractory myeloma alone and in combination with agents such as dexamethasone.
a sedative and hypnotic drug; withdrawn from sale after discovered to cause severe birth defects because it inhibits angiogenesis
An immunomodulatory drug, or ImiD; a drug that appears to inhibit both the growth and survival of myeloma cells as well as the growth of new blood vessels that feed tumors.
A drug rarely used because of its disastrous side effects in pregnancy, but proving useful in some lupus with severe skin lupus.
This drug seems to have an anti- angeogenesis (anti-tumour) effect. It cuts off the blood supply to the myeloma cells and causes it to die. Good response achieved in initial trials with few side effects, now in trials in the UK. Too early to say how long the response lasts or if there are any long term problems.
After a disastrous start, this drug is now finding a useful role, e.g. for drug-resistant myeloma.
Infamous drug that caused birth defects. Now being investigated as a cancer treatment because it is antiangiogenic (stops blood vessels growing).
a sedative drug under investigation for treatment of aphthous ulcers, wasting syndrome and other conditions in persons with HIV disease. Thalidomide has been shown to reduce levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in vitro. The drug has teratogenic effects and may cause severe birth defects; other side effects include skin rashes and peripheral neuropathy.
Drug that caused birth defects when used to treat morning sickness in the 1970s. Now being investigated as a cancer treatment because it is anti-angiogenic.
A medicine that was used as a sleep aid and for treatment of morning sickness during pregnancy. It was discovered that thalidomide causes birth defects and fetal death.
A drug that belongs to the family of drugs called angiogenesis inhibitors. It prevents the growth of new blood vessels into a solid tumor.
Thalidomide is a sedative, hypnotic, and anti-inflammatory medication. It was sold from 1957 to 1961 in almost fifty countries under at least forty names, including Distaval, Talimol, Nibrol, Sedimide, Quietoplex, Contergan, Neurosedyn, and Softenon. Thalidomide was chiefly sold and prescribed during the late 1950s and 1960s to pregnant women, as an antiemetic to combat morning sickness and as an aid to help them sleep.
