The drug ‘Thalidomide’ was mainly prescribed to pregnant women for morning sickness in the late 50s and early 60s. Instead the drug caused severe deformities in babies with missing limbs. The drug ‘Thalidomide’ was mainly prescribed to pregnant women for morning sickness in the late 50s and early 60s. Instead the drug caused severe deformities in babies with missing limbs.
50 years on, the drug thalidomide, which was approved a European license last year, as increased the chances of history of thalidomide being repeated. Thalidomide is widely used in the treatment of various blood cancers and in some cases arthritis. Sadly, this means that because the drug is being used more and more the possibility of babies being born with missing limbs in the UK is increasing unless the regulators are prepared to let Thalidomide UK help with the warnings.
It will also send a clear message to the MHRA (The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency).
The UK and Europe's drug regulators recommended approved of thalidomide to treat bone marrow cancer, nearly 50 years after the medicine was withdrawn as a treatment for morning sickness around the world because it caused thousands of children to be born with birth defects.
The European medicines agency granted authorisation for the medicine to be used to treat multiple myeloma in combination with other drugs, on condition that it was strictly controlled to avoid it being taken by pregnant women.
Thalidomide UK is prepared to work with the license holders of Thalidomide Celgene and the MHRA if it means that we can stop anymore babies being damaged. We believe that the best way forward is to work on Risk Management Programme like the European Pregnancy Prevention Programme and the STEPS Programme in the USA, with the manufactures and suppliers that would reduce the chances of more babies being damaged by the drug.
Mr Freddie Astbury ‘President of Thalidomide UK’ (District H.Q)
(Medicines 'Teratogenic' Regulatory Consultant)
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