CB:
ENMD had licensed the rights to thalidomide from BMY, then bought those rights in 8-97. They had clinical trials going for treating four different types of cancer (that I know of). ENMD must have felt that endostatin and angiostatin either had more promise than thalidomide, or that CELG could better proceed with its development.
As to the birth defects, I seem to recall that a woman, I believe in Europe, who was a "thalidomide baby," gave birth to an infant that was also deformed. The story appeared several months ago, as I recall...but I don't remember where I read it, so I can't be sure that my memory's correct without a refresher. I felt at the time, that it would almost force the FDA to deny its access to the market if it could cause chromosomal changes. But I haven't read anything since, and it was OK'd for leprosy subsequent to the story, so maybe I'm wrong. I'd be curious if anyone else recalls the story. |
