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German manufacturer of thalidomide makes 1st apology 50 years after birth defect drug launched

August 31 2012 05:30 AM

CP19953582 — FILE - An April 21, 1969 photo from files showing a view of a laboratory of the pharmaceutical company "Chemie Gruenenthal", in Stolberg, near Aachen, West Germany, during an animal experiment April 21, 1969 as prosecuters came to inspect the manufacturer of the drug Thalidomide, which was prescribed by doctors as harmless sleeping drug to pregnant women and caused the miscarriage and birth of thousands of crippled children. The maker of a notorious drug that caused thousands of babies to be born with shortened arms and legs or no limbs at all in the 1960\'s has finally apologized. Thalidomide was given to pregnant women to combat morning sickness but led to a wave of birth defects in Europe, Australia, Canada, Japan and the U.S. Despite the words of contrition, the drug maker Gruenenthal has refused to settle lawsuits, the most recent involving class actions in Australia. (AP Photo/File)

Original Publication Date: August 31, 2012 5:30AM

Publication Updated: January 9, 2025 4:59AM

BERLIN – The German manufacturer of anti-morning sickness drug thalidomide has for the first time apologized to people who were born with congenital birth defects as a result of its use.

Pharmaceutical company Gruenenthal says it is asking for forgiveness from the thousands of children born without limbs to pregnant women who took the drug during the 1950s and 1960s.

Chief executive Harald Stock said Friday that the company had failed to reach out “from person to person” to the victims and their mothers over the past 50 years.

“Instead, we remained silent,” Stock said at an event in the western city of Stolberg where Gruenenthal is based.

Thalidomide was pulled from the market in 1961 after it was linked to birth defects. Many victims have only recently received compensation.

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