Wonder Drug: The Secret History of Thalidomide in America and Its Hidden Victims

Wonder Drug: The Secret History of Thalidomide in America and Its Hidden Victims by Jennifer Vanderbes

Thalidomide was once seen as a wonder drug that could help with many conditions with minimal side effects. It came from German pharmaceutical companies and was used in Europe. In the US, it was never fully approved. However, it had been used extensively in "trials". It was later determined that the drug could lead to birth defects when taken during pregnancy. This was thought to be a "European problem". Alas, the "trial" in the US had a much greater scope than anyone knew. The record-keeping was lacking and the doctors had little knowledge of the drug and had spread it to many others. Many people took it without knowing what it was. The book primarily covers the history of the drug and the politics involved with regulating the drug industry. The end drags on with quests for lawsuits and the difficulty in suing many years later. (You wonder what the point is doing this decades later. Would it really help people?) Only recently has the drug been approved by the FDA for limited use cases. The book tries to set up some heroes, but tends to focus more on the facts rather than narrative.