The thalidomide scandal of the 1960’s has hit the news again today, with the manufacture finally issuing an apology (which has been rejected, it seems) to the victims of thalidomide, who (if still alive) have now spent the best part of 50 years with crippling disability.

Of course, there has been so much written about thalidomide (a Nazi drug, a medical cover up, proof that animal testing is worthless, proof that animal testing is a necessity to name but a few of the more common themes on the Net) that I am not going to add to the debate (the fact checking alone would be a full time job).

All I would like to say is that the images of thalidomide babies had a profound effect on me when I was first shown them during my undergraduate studies (where it was used as a textbook example in my chirality classes, pharmaceutical chemistry classes and toxicology classes).  It shaped my ethical view on chemistry, and it is why I always react strongly (as I’m sure all chemists do) to any reports of adverse drug reactions, particularly those from drugs that have reached the market.

There will always be those who believe that money talks and that drug companies suppress data to ensure their compounds reach the market place. There is even evidence in some cases (Vioxx for example) that this is true. These real and supposed scandals are absolutely devastating to the genuine medicinal chemist, working so hard and with such good intention to try to help sick people.

We must never forget the thalidomide mistakes. We must never forget that money does talk. But we must never forget also that medicinal chemistry and the pharmaceutical industry have saved and extended countless lives in the past century, and will continue to do so.

I feel for anyone who has suffered at because of our mistakes, ignorance or greed; but I also feel on balance that the positive influences of chemistry in the health sciences still far, far exceeds the negative. Thererfore despite the scandals, despite the mistakes, despite the tragedies, I am proud to be a part of a long and distinguished quest by chemists to make people better.