The thalidomide disaster, one of the biggest medical disasters in history, occurred in the 1950s and 1960s when a drug called thalidomide was prescribed to pregnant women to alleviate morning sickness and insomnia. The drug caused severe birth defects, including limb malformations, brain damage, and other developmental problems, resulting in the deaths of thousands of children worldwide.
The drug was developed by a German company, Chemie Grunenthal, and was initially approved for use in West Germany without adequate testing. It was later approved in other countries, including Canada, but not in the United States, thanks to the efforts of a scientist named Frances Kelsey, who raised concerns about the drug's safety.
In Turkey, the drug was not approved due to the efforts of two academics, Professor Süreyya Tahsin Aygün and Professor Doctor Şükrü Kaykçalan, who raised concerns about its toxicity.
The thalidomide disaster led to major changes in the way drugs are tested and approved for use, including the establishment of stricter safety protocols and the requirement for more rigorous testing.
Despite its dark history, thalidomide has been found to have some beneficial properties and is now used to treat certain medical conditions, including leprosy and multiple myeloma. However, its use is strictly regulated, and it is only prescribed in specific circumstances and with careful monitoring.
The thalidomide disaster serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of rigorous scientific testing and the need for transparency and accountability in the development and approval of new drugs.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. The thalidomide disaster was one of the biggest medical disasters in history.
2. The drug thalidomide was discovered in 1952 by a company called Siba.
3. Thalidomide was marketed as an antiemetic drug and was sold to pregnant women to alleviate morning sickness and sleep problems.
4. The drug was not thoroughly tested for its effects on pregnancy.
5. Thousands of babies were born with developmental problems, including brain damage, eye damage, and limb abnormalities, after their mothers took thalidomide during pregnancy.
6. The effects of thalidomide on pregnancy were specific to certain days of pregnancy, with different problems occurring depending on the day of exposure.
7. The drug was removed from the market in 1961 due to the increasing number of problematic births.
8. Despite its dangers, thalidomide continued to circulate on the market for years.
9. An estimated 10-15 thousand children around the world died due to thalidomide, and a similar number had to grow up with serious developmental problems.
10. The United States and Turkey were among the countries that were not significantly affected by the thalidomide disaster.
11. In the US, the drug was not approved for sale due to the efforts of Frances Kelsey, a scientist who carefully evaluated the data from independent laboratories.
12. In Turkey, the drug was not licensed due to the warnings of two academicians, Professor Süreyya Tahsin Aygün and Professor Doctor Şükrü Kaykçalan.
13. Thalidomide is still used today as an effective drug in the treatment of leprosy and certain types of cancer.
14. Research has shown that the molecule thalidomide has different properties depending on its chirality, or mirror symmetry.
15. The effects of thalidomide on pregnancy were found to be limited to a sensitive window of 20-22 days.
16. Further research is needed to determine the safe dosage and usage of thalidomide.