4 ms·

And now Thalidomide is used in treating cancer and sold for over $200 a pill. Quite a nice markup for telling the patients not to get pregnant while on treatmen

And now Thalidomide is used in treating cancer and sold for over $200 a pill. Quite a nice markup for telling the patients not to get pregnant while on treatment.

madaxe_again 6y ago
Only one enantiomer caused birth defects - and a defect in the original manufacturing process created L- as well as D- chiral species. Pretty sure it no longer contains the problem enantiomer.
- Metacelsus 6y ago
  The enantiomers can interconvert (racemize) within the body, so it's not that simple.
eterm 6y ago
It needn't cost that much, the UK's NHS is charged around $15/pill if I'm reading this right: https://bnf.nice.org.uk/medicinal-forms/thalidomide.html https://bnf.nice.org.uk/medicinal-forms/thalidomide.html Also worth noting that "Don't get pregnant" also extends to "don't get anyone else pregnant" since the side effects can pass from men to women too.