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Episode 3.33: The Scourge of Thalidomide



In March of 1954, scientists from German pharmaceutical company Chemie Grünenthal produced Thalidomide for the first time. Thalidomide was a sedative and sleep aid sold in many countries worldwide under the name “Contergan”, as well as other brands. The medication was also being marketed and taken by pregnant women as a safe remedy for morning sickness. But in November of 1961, the drug was found to have caused severe deformities in newborn children if taken during a specific point in the pregnancy. In today's episode, we learn more about what led to the Thalidomide scandal and the outcomes from the worst drug disaster in history.



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