bio- EC thalidomide - Extra Credit Thalidomide In the 1960s...

Extra Credit: Thalidomide
In the 1960s, Thalidomide caused an epidemic of phocomelia, the deformation or
absence of limbs, in newborn children to mothers who used the German drug to quell
their morning sickness. The sedative was never FDA approved but pregnant women in
the US continued to use the drug. The incorrect isomer of the compound used in the
medication caused catastrophic damage to the newborn infants. In adults, side affects
resulted in irreversible numbing of the hands or feet.
Now, clinical trials are being conducted to determine whether the drug
Thalidomide can be used to treat a variety of diseases. They are testing its effectiveness
on cancers, eye diseases, and AIDS.
The drug has been found to obstruct the growth of new blood vessels, which
would prove advantageous in macular degeneration (an overgrowth of new blood vessels
in the center of the retina where focus is managed).
The sedative has also been shown to encompass the ability of lowering TNF
(Tumor Necrosis Factor, a chemical mediator in the body) Alpha levels. High TNF levels