Thalidomide: Difference between revisions
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Thalidomide (alpha-(N-phthalimido)glutarimide) is a synthetic glutamic acid derivative which was manufactured by the German pharmaceutical company Chemie Grunenthal in the 1950s<ref name=" | Thalidomide (alpha-(N-phthalimido)glutarimide) is a synthetic glutamic acid derivative which was manufactured by the German pharmaceutical company Chemie Grunenthal in the 1950s<ref name="Bartlett et al">Bartlett, J.B., Dredge, K. and Dalgleish, A.G. (2004) ‘Timeline: The evolution of thalidomide and its IMiD derivatives as anticancer agents’, Nature Reviews Cancer, 4(4), pp. 314–322. doi: 10.1038/nrc1323.</ref>. The drug has sedative and antiemetic properties, making it a popular for combatting morning sickness in pregnant women. However, thalidomide was withdrawn from the market in early 1961, after clinicians William McBride<ref name="McBride et al">McBride, W.G. (1961) ‘THALIDOMIDE AND CONGENITAL ABNORMALITIES’, The Lancet, 278(7216), p. 1358. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(61)90927-8.</ref> and Widukind Lenz<ref name="Lenz et al">Lenz, W., Pfeiffer, R.A., Kosenow, W. and Hayman, D.J. (1962) ‘THALIDOMIDE AND CONGENITAL ABNORMALITIES’, The Lancet, 279(7219), pp. 45–46. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(62)92665-x.</ref> independently reported a link between the drug and birth defects. Thalidomide is a potent teratogen, causing dysmelia in humans<ref name="D'Amato et al">DʼAmato RJ, Loughnan, M.S., Flynn, E. and Folkman, J. (1996) ‘Thalidomide is an inhibitor of Angiogenesis’, Retina, 16(3), p. 268. doi: 10.1097/00006982-199616030-00022.</ref>. | ||
The deformities in the children were caused by the mixture of the L-form and D-form of the thalidomide molecule. The L-form was safe and worked effectively as a drug, but the D-form was harmful and caused the deformities. Due to modern technology, scientists have been able to isolate and distribute the safe form of thalidomide, and it is now prescribed as a form of cancer treatment. | The deformities in the children were caused by the mixture of the L-form and D-form of the thalidomide molecule. The L-form was safe and worked effectively as a drug, but the D-form was harmful and caused the deformities. Due to modern technology, scientists have been able to isolate and distribute the safe form of thalidomide, and it is now prescribed as a form of cancer treatment. | ||
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Revision as of 17:19, 27 December 2016
Thalidomide (alpha-(N-phthalimido)glutarimide) is a synthetic glutamic acid derivative which was manufactured by the German pharmaceutical company Chemie Grunenthal in the 1950s[1]. The drug has sedative and antiemetic properties, making it a popular for combatting morning sickness in pregnant women. However, thalidomide was withdrawn from the market in early 1961, after clinicians William McBride[2] and Widukind Lenz[3] independently reported a link between the drug and birth defects. Thalidomide is a potent teratogen, causing dysmelia in humans[4].
The deformities in the children were caused by the mixture of the L-form and D-form of the thalidomide molecule. The L-form was safe and worked effectively as a drug, but the D-form was harmful and caused the deformities. Due to modern technology, scientists have been able to isolate and distribute the safe form of thalidomide, and it is now prescribed as a form of cancer treatment.
References
- ↑ Bartlett, J.B., Dredge, K. and Dalgleish, A.G. (2004) ‘Timeline: The evolution of thalidomide and its IMiD derivatives as anticancer agents’, Nature Reviews Cancer, 4(4), pp. 314–322. doi: 10.1038/nrc1323.
- ↑ McBride, W.G. (1961) ‘THALIDOMIDE AND CONGENITAL ABNORMALITIES’, The Lancet, 278(7216), p. 1358. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(61)90927-8.
- ↑ Lenz, W., Pfeiffer, R.A., Kosenow, W. and Hayman, D.J. (1962) ‘THALIDOMIDE AND CONGENITAL ABNORMALITIES’, The Lancet, 279(7219), pp. 45–46. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(62)92665-x.
- ↑ DʼAmato RJ, Loughnan, M.S., Flynn, E. and Folkman, J. (1996) ‘Thalidomide is an inhibitor of Angiogenesis’, Retina, 16(3), p. 268. doi: 10.1097/00006982-199616030-00022.