File talk:William McBride.jpg

In 1981, McBride's involvement in the Debendox case identified data falsification.6789952

The Lancet (16 December 1961)

THALIDOMIDE AND CONGENITAL ABNORMALITIES

"SIR, - Congenital abnormalities are present in approximately 15% of babies. In recent months I have observed that the incidence of multiple severe abnormalities in babies delivered of women who were given the drug thalidomide (‘ Distaval ’) during pregnancy, as an anti-emetic or as a sedative, to be almost 20%.

These abnormalities are present in structures developed from mesenchyme - i.e., the bones and musculature of the gut. Bony development seems to be affected in a very striking manner, resulting in polydactyly, syndactyly, and failure of development of long bones (abnormally short femora and radii).

Have any of your readers seen similar abnormalities in babies delivered of women who have taken this drug during pregnancy ?"

Hurstville, New South Wales. W G MCBRIDE

In our issue of Dec. 2 we included a statement from the Distillers Company (Biochemicals) Ltd. referring to “ reports from two overseas sources possibly associating thalidomide (‘ Distaval ’) with harmful effects on the foetus in early pregnancy ”. Pending further investigation, the company decided to withdraw from the market all its preparations containing thalidomide.—ED.L.