Use the links below to answer the following questions on a separate piece of paper.
Historical Information About Thalidomide
This brief article on the following web link will provide some basic historical information about thalidomide.
- When and where was the drug thalidomide first used?
- For what purpose was it used?
- What were the unintended consequences of its use by pregnant women?
Thalidomide and Stereochemistry
This article provides information on the stereogenic effects of Thalidomide.
Why is drug chirality important?
- Why is thalidomide chiral?
- Why are drug moledules often chiral in order to have positive effects in humans?
- What should drug companies consider when they develop and market new chiral drugs?
What caused the thalidomide tragedy?
- What are the harmful side effects of the chiral drug Thalidomide
- Why can thalidomide cause birth defects?
- If doctors prescribe the pure (+)(R)-thalidomide only, could the harmful side effects of thalidomide be avoided? Why?
Why has thalidomide been approved for sale again?
- Why was thalidomide banned in 1962?
- Why did the US Food and Drug Administration approve the use of thalidomide in 1998?
- Thalidomide victims have expressed a lot of concerns about the return of thalidomide to the market. What are their major concerns? What are their recommendations?
For more information on a number of related topics, click on these links!