Kennedy (I have to believe intentionally) misrepresents the history of thalidomide and Frances Oldham Kelsey's contributions by suggesting that the medication was approved in the US. It never was. Precisely because Kelsey intervened to prevent that because of a lack of safety data in pregnancy. - ThreadSky

enirenberg.bsky.social • 31 days ago

Kennedy (I have to believe intentionally) misrepresents the history of thalidomide and Frances Oldham Kelsey's contributions by suggesting that the medication was approved in the US. It never was. Precisely because Kelsey intervened to prevent that because of a lack of safety data in pregnancy.

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vrboombatzmdphd.bsky.social•31 days ago

I'd heard it was a lack of CNS safety data that set her off (exacerbated by the sponsor's tendency to stonewall), but I can't seem to find good sources... do you have a history you like?

(Btw, neuropathy is a known issue with thalidomide....)

technocracygirl.bsky.social•31 days ago

There's an excellent biography from Cheryl Krasnick Warsh, a historian and professor.

*Frances Oldham Kelsey, the FDA, and the Battle Against Thalidomide.*

Dr. Warsh actually interviewed Dr. Kelsey before she died.

https://www.amazon.com/Frances-Oldham-Kelsey-against-Thalidomide/dp/0197632548?dplnkId=fc854747-9269-453d-93ca-f992a089fee3

vrboombatzmdphd.bsky.social•31 days ago

Thank you!

wohinjetzt.bsky.social•31 days ago

You didn’t ask me, but…Jennifer Vanderbes’ book Wonder Drug.

vrboombatzmdphd.bsky.social•31 days ago

Thank you!

vrboombatzmdphd.bsky.social•31 days ago

[looks at user name] Wohin jetzt. I like it.

enirenberg.bsky.social•31 days ago

Reports of neuropathy initially led her to question it but at that point she requested data supporting the safety of the drug in pregnancy for the fetus given that it was intended as a treatment for morning sickness

xtinemilrod.bsky.social•31 days ago

We ALL know it wasn't approved. He's beyond.

isiparksblog.bsky.social•31 days ago

I believe it was briefly tested and sampled in the US but ultimately denied approval.

squeakins85.bsky.social•31 days ago

They used it more in the Uk

groinhammer.bsky.social•31 days ago

It was used in 46 countries, and in the UK it brought about the Medicines Act 1968 which tightened regulations significantly.

squeakins85.bsky.social•31 days ago

I remember watching a documentary on "lobster boy"

isiparksblog.bsky.social•31 days ago

There was a PBS Doc about it years ago, that was where I'd first heard about it. There are several more recent ones posted on YT.

enirenberg.bsky.social•31 days ago

There was a clinical trial in the US in which a few people did develop thalidomide embryopathy but it was never approved in the US

isiparksblog.bsky.social•31 days ago

Ah! That's what I'm thinking of- I knew there was some sort of testing, but it never reached approval.

spectaculauren.bsky.social•31 days ago

What??? He's all in on banning lifesaving vaccines and medications that have been proven to be safe, but he defends THALIDOMIDE?

enirenberg.bsky.social•31 days ago

He didn’t defend thalidomide, he claimed that it was a regulatory failure on the part of FDA when it was the opposite

spectaculauren.bsky.social•31 days ago

Gotcha, thank you for explaining. That's still horrible.

patlalaver01.bsky.social•31 days ago

In those days pregnancy care was not care. Swollen belly, I couldn't sleep. So I was put on seconal. I told the doctor I was too drowsy in the morning so he put me on dexadrine. I was just a kid but I changed doctors in my 7th month. Next pg, bleedings in 3d month, DES. Even so I made it to 85.

mumbly-joe.bsky.social•31 days ago

Her higher ups at FDA also gave her their full support

catladyresister.bsky.social•31 days ago

What can we expect from someone whose brain was eaten by a worm? RFK Jr is another unqualified nominee. Dump is so stupid that he doesn’t realize how stupid his nominees are. Can’t fix stupid.

mercime.bsky.social•31 days ago

Thalidomide was a disastrous drug causing thousands of severe birth defects.

notapreppie.bsky.social•31 days ago

And no amount of screaming this in the direction of people like him will ever help.

Which is infuriating.

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