NO Limits
ThalidomideStory.com
is a film about Thalidomide, a drug made by Grünenthal which severely disabled thousands of babies in the 60's and caused the worst pharmaceutical scandal in history.
"NO Limits" A film by John Zaritsky now on Amazon Prime
THALIDOMIDER STORIES
ABOUT THE DRUG THALIDOMIDE
ABOUT GRÜNENTHAL
OTHER NOTABLES
TIMELINE
FILM
RESOURCES
THALIDOMIDER STORIES
Thalidomiders
Alvin Law
Rejected at birth
My life became this life
Why do I need arms?
I love driving!
Building character
This is how I do things
Motivational Speaker
Alvin Law Bio
Eileen Cronin
Four Leaf Clover
Love at first sight
Artificial Limbs
Eileen Cronin Bio
Niko von Glasow
A timid child
Becoming a director
Time to look the devil in the asshole
Nobody's Perfect
The most important thing
It's good to be rich!
Niko von Glasow Bio
Louise Mason
Growing Up
Bullying
Marriage
Louise Mason Bio
Jan Schulte-Hillen
Just forget about him
We had a lot of fun
Son, do your own thing.
Jan Schulte-Hillen Bio
Lynette Rowe
A deadly silence
Caring for Lynnette
A class action law suit
Lynette Rowe Bio
Paul Murphy
Doctors pressured to use Thalidomide
A breach birth
Bring that baby home!
Troubled teenage years
There's always a solution
Paul Murphy Bio
Monika Eisenberg
I had to fight to survive
My mother and me
Hadamar - a dark shadow
No Boundaries
Monika Eisenberg and "minor guilt"
Remembering the victims
Monika Eisenberg Bio
ABOUT THE DRUG THALIDOMIDE
Why Thalidomide?
It was supposed to be Safe
Grünenthal Sales Motto "Succeed at any cost"
Their apology came from their lawyers
Distribution & Marketing
Canada
Australia and New Zealand
Austria
Brazil
Germany
United Kingdom
Italy
Ireland
Japan
Spain
Sweden
United States
Current Uses
A new treatment for leprosy
Thalidomide and Leprosy
A huge Thalidomide comeback
Celgene and Thalidomide
Thalidomide a big money maker
Reaction To The Crisis
"Wonder drug" or baby killer?
Reminiscent of the Nazi era
Thalidomide babies killed
Better drug safety laws implemented
Germany
Germany - "A Single Pill"
Canada
United Kingdom
USA
Australia
A Cautionary Tale
ABOUT GRÜNENTHAL
Company History
From Soap to Thalidomide
Ex-Nazis find a home at Grünenthal
Sales at all Costs
Minor Guilt for a Major Catastrophe
Contergan exposed by Morley Safer
1968 German Trial
Grünenthal's founder evades trial
1960's German justice-a banana republic?
1968 German trial tactics
Grünenthal claims "minor guilt"
Unveiling the German trial documents
2012 Apology
Grünenthal finally apologizes
Grünenthal's 2012 Apology
Reactions to Grünenthal apology
Apology comes from the heart
A bronze statue
A visit to the statue
OTHER NOTABLES
Historical Figures
Frances Kelsey
William McBride
Widukind Lenz
Carl-Hermann
Hermann Wirtz, SR
Heinrich Mückter
Otto Ambros
Others
Michael Magazanik
Martin Johnson
Peter Gordon
Linde Schulte-Hillen
Sir Harold Evans
TIMELINE
TIMELINE
1939
:
Scientists discover that a drug can pass through the placenta and damage a fetus
1946
:
Chemie Grünenthal GmbH is founded
1947
:
Grünenthal mainly manufactures antibiotics
Winter, 1954
:
Keller and Kunz synthesize new compound later to be called Thalidomide
April, 1954
:
Grünenthal obtains a 20 year patent for K 17
1955
:
Thalidomide or K17 is tested on animals
1955
:
Thalidomide or K 17 is tested on humans
June, 1955
:
K 17 “is ready to go on the market”
October 21, 1955
:
An expert recommends that tests should be done over a period of at least 9 to 12 months
December 15, 1955
:
Thalidomide is a substance without “undesirable side effects”
March, 1956
:
Dr. Piacenza writes about “light paresthesia” (“pins and needles”) in connection with K 17
July 10, 1956
:
The NRW Department of Health approves the sale drugs containing of Thalidomide
August, 1956
:
Paper on thalidomide talks about its “sedative effect” and its “extreme non-toxicity”
December 25, 1956
:
The first known Thalidomide baby is born
July 5, 1957
:
Grünenthal asks Bonn University prof to include K 17 in pregnant women test
September 2, 1957
:
Thalidomide gets the name “Contergan” for the German market
September 26, 1957
:
Ads about Contergan are to focus on its sensational “absolute non-toxicity” and “safeness”
October 1, 1957
:
Contergan is put on the West-German market
December, 1957
:
“Unrest and states of excitements” cease to be mentioned
1958
:
Contergan is highly advertised
1958
:
Thalidomide sample pills distributed in the US
March 3, 1958
:
Doctors complain about the wording “absolute non-toxic”
April, 1958
:
Thalidomide sold in Great Britain under the trade-name Distaval
August 1, 1958
:
Grünenthal uses unrelated test results to promote the safety of Thalidomide for pregnant women
August 26, 1958
:
Report on difficulties in walking
1959
:
Growing critical voices
1959
:
Thalidomide under brand names is available as samples in Canada
January, 1959
:
Thalidomide is advertised in a journal about obstetrics and gynecology
January, 1959
:
1959 - USA
March, 1959
:
Complaints about cold feet and hands
June 23, 1959
:
1959 - Canada
July 14, 1959
:
A consumer believes his paresthesia is connected to Contergan
August, 1959
:
More cases of polyneuritis
August 17, 1959
:
Grünenthal doesn’t take growing number of complaints seriously
October 3, 1959
:
Dr. Voss alerts Grünenthal about nerve damage
October 15, 1959
:
Sievers and Werner are lying again
November 27, 1959
:
Voss informs Grünenthal about more cases of polyneuritis and clearly warns about a possible toxicity
November 27, 1959
:
More warnings on that same day
December 30, 1959
:
Dr. Werner and Dr. Sievers lie again
January 14, 1960
:
Contergan is “devil’s work”
February 23, 1960
:
“Contergan causes damage”, according to a neurologist
March 1, 1960
:
Contergan is the most-sold sedative in Germany
March 8, 1960
:
Once again Grünenthal denies having heard of cases of polyneuritis.
April, 1960
:
A Grünenthal representative starts visiting the Ministry of Interior in NRW
April, 1960
:
Grünenthal visits Voss trying to influence him
April 14, 1960
:
Dr. Mückter says “everything needs to be done to prevent the prescription requirement”
May 1, 1960
:
Neurologist Voss publicly talks about nerve damage
Summer, 1960
:
June to October 1960
August 10, 1960
:
Linde Schulte-Hillen takes one pill of Contergan
September 8, 1960
:
1960 Canada
September 12, 1960
:
1960 USA
Fall, 1960
:
Defendants assume the “likeliness” of the nerve damaging effects of Contergan
October, 1960
:
Some hospitals stop giving out Thalidomide
November, 1960
:
The net sales revenue for Contergan reaches 1,215,600 Marks
November, 1960
:
A note that warns about nerve damage is included in the instruction leaflet
November 17, 1960
:
“For Contergan we fight to the last breath.”
November 22, 1960
:
Notice of compliance from the Canadian Food and Drug Directorate
November 24, 1960
:
Pharmacist inquires about malformations
December, 1960
:
"Everything is done to protect our ‘eyeball’"
December 31, 1960
:
First publication about Thalidomide and nerve damage
1961
:
McBride informs Distillers about three malformed babies born in his care
January, 1961
:
Contergan sales in Germany reach their highest point
January, 1961
:
Certainty that Contergan is responsible for nerve damage
January 16, 1961
:
Negative articles about Contergan "are to be prevented"
January 17, 1961
:
Grünenthal suppresses knowledge of reports about damaged babies and children
February 15, 1961
:
Voss thinks nerve damage is irreversible
February 27, 1961
:
Dr. Sievers and Dr. Werner say Contergan doesn’t cause damage
March, 1961
:
Kelsey reads Florence’s letter in the British Medical Journal
April 1, 1961
:
Thalidomide enters Canadian market
April 21, 1961
:
A Grünenthal sales rep makes fun of patients at psychiatric ward who do not notice their nerve damage
May, 1961
:
Dr. Frenkel and others publish articles about nerve damage caused by Contergan
May 11, 1961
:
Kelsey asks if Thalidomide can harm a fetus
May 26, 1961
:
Grünenthal revises package leaflet for Thalidomide
June, 1961
:
Lenz and Schulte-Hillen collect evidence in Northern Germany
June 26, 1961
:
Prescription requirement for Thalidomide containing preparations recommended
June 27, 1961
:
Randolph Reginald Warren is born
Summer, 1961
:
Grünenthal wonders if Thalidomide can pass the placenta
August 1, 1961
:
Prescription requirement is introduced, but only in three federal states
August 16, 1961
:
Grünenthal pays compensation to patients with nerve damage
September, 1961
:
The first article about the increasing numbers of malformed babies is published
September 26, 1961
:
FDA wants pregnancy warning included in instruction leaflet
October, 1961
:
Grünenthal informed about a malformation on a newborn possibly connected to Thalidomide
October, 1961
:
Contergan likely responsible for the malformations
October 3, 1961
:
Thalidomide disturbs bone growth in chickens
November 15, 1961
:
Lenz phones Grünenthal, demanding Thalidomide be taken off the market immediately
November 17, 1961
:
Dr. Lenz sends summary of his observations to Grünenthal
November 19, 1961
:
Lenz publicly talks about his suspicion
November 20, 1961
:
Grünenthal executives meet with Lenz in Hamburg
November 20, 1961
:
Grünenthal sends out 66,957 letters to doctors saying their drug was safe.
November 24, 1961
:
Grünenthal is informed about McBride’s warnings in Australia
November 25, 1961
:
The Ministry of the Interior informs several offices in Germany about the new suspicion against Thalidomide
November 26, 1961
:
The newspaper article that finally makes Grünenthal act is published
November 27, 1961
:
Withdrawal of Thalidomide from the West German market
November 30, 1961
:
Experts believe Thalidomide is responsible for malformations
December, 1961
:
By end of 1961, 1800 cases of nerve damage reported to Grünenthal
December 1, 1961
:
Criminal charges against Grünenthal are filed in Hanover
December 2, 1961
:
Distillers takes Thalidomide off the market in the UK and Australia
December 5, 1961
:
Thalidomide stays on the Canadian market for another four months
December 16, 1961
:
The prosecution in Aachen starts its criminal investigation proceedings
1962
:
Scientists demonstrate teratogenicity
February, 1962
:
Times Magazine reports Thalidomide still available in Canada
March 2, 1962
:
Thalidomide removed from the market in Canada
May, 1962
:
UK government warning issued
July 4, 1962
:
Grünenthal still denies any connection between Thalidomide and malformations
August 7, 1962
:
Kelsey presented award by JFK
August 9, 1962
:
Thalidomide Society is formed by parents in Britain
October 10, 1962
:
USA - Drug Amendments Act is passed
March 16, 1963
:
The Federal Association of Thalidomide Victims is founded
1964
:
Thalidomide can be useful in treating leprosy patients
December, 1966
:
Josef Neuberger is appointed Minister of Justice in NRW
March 13, 1967
:
Aachen prosecutors file a suit against Grünenthal
1968
:
Distillers offers modest settlement amounts to survivors in the UK
May 27, 1968
:
The trial begins in Alsdorf
August 12, 1968
:
Lenz testifies at the trial
July, 1969
:
Government interference in the German Thalidomide trial
October 10, 1969
:
Courts decides that Lenz’ testimony cannot be used
January 26, 1970
:
Grünenthal agrees to pay 100 Million Marks
April 10, 1970
:
A settlement is reached
December 18, 1970
:
The trial in Alsdorf ends without a verdict
March, 1971
:
Richardson-Merrel is sued in the US
September 24, 1972
:
UK Media campaigns
October 31, 1972
:
Disabled Children's Relief Foundation for People with Disabilities set up
1973
:
Settlement package by Distillers
August 10, 1973
:
UK Thalidomide Children’s Trust established
April, 1974
:
The patent protection expires
January 1, 1978
:
The new German Drug Law comes into effect
December, 1987
:
Thalidomide Victims Association of Canada is formed
1991
:
Canada-$21 million assistance package
1993
:
UK-actuarial report
June, 1993
:
Reports on deformities in Brazil
December, 1996
:
USA - Celgene askes the FDA for permission to distribute Thalidomide
1997
:
Compensation Grünenthal committed to in 1971 is used up
1998
:
USA - FDA approves use to treat ENL
November, 2002
:
UK - Fight for a better deal for Thalidomiders
2004
:
Application for Thalidomide to enter the European market
July, 2004
:
UK - Campaign to stop taxation on Thalidomide compensation
2005
:
UK - Improved deal is reached with Diageo
August 19, 2005
:
The “Contergan Foundation” is renamed
2006
:
Schulte-Hillen and Grünenthal try to prevent the broadcast of a TV movie about the Contergan scandal
2006
:
USA - FDA approves Thalomid for treatment of multiple myeloma
2007
:
Improved survival rates of bone-marrow cancer patients
November 7, 2007
:
The WDR broadcasts the movie “Eine Einzige Tablette”
December, 2007
:
First meeting - Grünenthal and the German Federal Association of Thalidomide Victims
2008
:
EU approval for treatment of multiple myeloma
May, 2008
:
Grünenthal announces 50 Million Euros payment
2009
:
UK - 20 million pound grant
June 29, 2009
:
The second amendment to the “Contergan Foundation Law” comes into effect
2010
:
UK - formal apology to Thalidomide victims
July, 2010
:
50 million Australian dollars paid to survivors
June, 2011
:
Grünenthal offers to reimburse “extraordinary” costs
June, 2011
:
Australia - Peter Gordon launches landmark international class action suit
October, 2011
:
First hearing of class action suit - Australia
December, 2011
:
Australian victims win right to have class action
July 19, 2012
:
Thalidomide settlement for Lynette Rowe
August 31, 2012
:
Grünenthal offers an apology
2012
:
Grünenthal's 2012 Apology
December, 2012
:
Grünenthal establishes company-owned foundation
December, 2012
:
UK survivors to receive 80 million pounds
April, 2013
:
The German Bundestag significantly raises the monthly benefits
December, 2013
:
Australia and New Zealand award
December, 2014
:
Canada - motion 'to right the wrong'
March 6, 2015
:
Canadian government announces compensation package
Compensation
August 16, 1961
:
Grünenthal pays compensation to patients with nerve damage
November 30, 1961
:
Experts believe Thalidomide is responsible for malformations
December 1, 1961
:
Criminal charges against Grünenthal are filed in Hanover
December 16, 1961
:
The prosecution in Aachen starts its criminal investigation proceedings
July 4, 1962
:
Grünenthal still denies any connection between Thalidomide and malformations
August 9, 1962
:
Thalidomide Society is formed by parents in Britain
March 16, 1963
:
The Federal Association of Thalidomide Victims is founded
December, 1966
:
Josef Neuberger is appointed Minister of Justice in NRW
March 13, 1967
:
Aachen prosecutors file a suit against Grünenthal
1968
:
Distillers offers modest settlement amounts to survivors in the UK
May 27, 1968
:
The trial begins in Alsdorf
August 12, 1968
:
Lenz testifies at the trial
July, 1969
:
Government interference in the German Thalidomide trial
October 10, 1969
:
Courts decides that Lenz’ testimony cannot be used
January 26, 1970
:
Grünenthal agrees to pay 100 Million Marks
April 10, 1970
:
A settlement is reached
December 18, 1970
:
The trial in Alsdorf ends without a verdict
March, 1971
:
Richardson-Merrel is sued in the US
September 24, 1972
:
UK Media campaigns
October 31, 1972
:
Disabled Children's Relief Foundation for People with Disabilities set up
1973
:
Settlement package by Distillers
August 10, 1973
:
UK Thalidomide Children’s Trust established
December, 1987
:
Thalidomide Victims Association of Canada is formed
1991
:
Canada-$21 million assistance package
1993
:
UK-actuarial report
1997
:
Compensation Grünenthal committed to in 1971 is used up
November, 2002
:
UK - Fight for a better deal for Thalidomiders
July, 2004
:
UK - Campaign to stop taxation on Thalidomide compensation
2005
:
UK - Improved deal is reached with Diageo
May, 2008
:
Grünenthal announces 50 Million Euros payment
2009
:
UK - 20 million pound grant
June 29, 2009
:
The second amendment to the “Contergan Foundation Law” comes into effect
July, 2010
:
50 million Australian dollars paid to survivors
June, 2011
:
Grünenthal offers to reimburse “extraordinary” costs
June, 2011
:
Australia - Peter Gordon launches landmark international class action suit
October, 2011
:
First hearing of class action suit - Australia
December, 2011
:
Australian victims win right to have class action
July 19, 2012
:
Thalidomide settlement for Lynette Rowe
December, 2012
:
Grünenthal establishes company-owned foundation
December, 2012
:
UK survivors to receive 80 million pounds
April, 2013
:
The German Bundestag significantly raises the monthly benefits
December, 2013
:
Australia and New Zealand award
December, 2014
:
Canada - motion 'to right the wrong'
March 6, 2015
:
Canadian government announces compensation package
Distribution
October 1, 1957
:
Contergan is put on the West-German market
1958
:
Thalidomide sample pills distributed in the US
April, 1958
:
Thalidomide sold in Great Britain under the trade-name Distaval
1959
:
Thalidomide under brand names is available as samples in Canada
January, 1959
:
Thalidomide is advertised in a journal about obstetrics and gynecology
January, 1959
:
1959 - USA
June 23, 1959
:
1959 - Canada
March 1, 1960
:
Contergan is the most-sold sedative in Germany
September 8, 1960
:
1960 Canada
November, 1960
:
The net sales revenue for Contergan reaches 1,215,600 Marks
November 17, 1960
:
“For Contergan we fight to the last breath.”
November 22, 1960
:
Notice of compliance from the Canadian Food and Drug Directorate
December, 1960
:
"Everything is done to protect our ‘eyeball’"
January, 1961
:
Contergan sales in Germany reach their highest point
March, 1961
:
Kelsey reads Florence’s letter in the British Medical Journal
April 1, 1961
:
Thalidomide enters Canadian market
May 26, 1961
:
Grünenthal revises package leaflet for Thalidomide
August 1, 1961
:
Prescription requirement is introduced, but only in three federal states
September 26, 1961
:
FDA wants pregnancy warning included in instruction leaflet
November 26, 1961
:
The newspaper article that finally makes Grünenthal act is published
December 2, 1961
:
Distillers takes Thalidomide off the market in the UK and Australia
December 5, 1961
:
Thalidomide stays on the Canadian market for another four months
February, 1962
:
Times Magazine reports Thalidomide still available in Canada
March 2, 1962
:
Thalidomide removed from the market in Canada
May, 1962
:
UK government warning issued
1964
:
Thalidomide can be useful in treating leprosy patients
January 1, 1978
:
The new German Drug Law comes into effect
June, 1993
:
Reports on deformities in Brazil
December, 1996
:
USA - Celgene askes the FDA for permission to distribute Thalidomide
1998
:
USA - FDA approves use to treat ENL
2004
:
Application for Thalidomide to enter the European market
2006
:
USA - FDA approves Thalomid for treatment of multiple myeloma
2007
:
Improved survival rates of bone-marrow cancer patients
2008
:
EU approval for treatment of multiple myeloma
Early Warnings
1955
:
Thalidomide or K 17 is tested on humans
June, 1955
:
K 17 “is ready to go on the market”
October 21, 1955
:
An expert recommends that tests should be done over a period of at least 9 to 12 months
December, 1957
:
“Unrest and states of excitements” cease to be mentioned
August 26, 1958
:
Report on difficulties in walking
1959
:
Growing critical voices
March, 1959
:
Complaints about cold feet and hands
July 14, 1959
:
A consumer believes his paresthesia is connected to Contergan
August, 1959
:
More cases of polyneuritis
August 17, 1959
:
Grünenthal doesn’t take growing number of complaints seriously
October 3, 1959
:
Dr. Voss alerts Grünenthal about nerve damage
October 15, 1959
:
Sievers and Werner are lying again
November 27, 1959
:
Voss informs Grünenthal about more cases of polyneuritis and clearly warns about a possible toxicity
November 27, 1959
:
More warnings on that same day
December 30, 1959
:
Dr. Werner and Dr. Sievers lie again
January 14, 1960
:
Contergan is “devil’s work”
February 23, 1960
:
“Contergan causes damage”, according to a neurologist
March 8, 1960
:
Once again Grünenthal denies having heard of cases of polyneuritis.
April, 1960
:
A Grünenthal representative starts visiting the Ministry of Interior in NRW
April, 1960
:
Grünenthal visits Voss trying to influence him
April 14, 1960
:
Dr. Mückter says “everything needs to be done to prevent the prescription requirement”
May 1, 1960
:
Neurologist Voss publicly talks about nerve damage
Summer, 1960
:
June to October 1960
September 12, 1960
:
1960 USA
Fall, 1960
:
Defendants assume the “likeliness” of the nerve damaging effects of Contergan
October, 1960
:
Some hospitals stop giving out Thalidomide
November 17, 1960
:
“For Contergan we fight to the last breath.”
November 24, 1960
:
Pharmacist inquires about malformations
December 31, 1960
:
First publication about Thalidomide and nerve damage
1961
:
McBride informs Distillers about three malformed babies born in his care
January, 1961
:
Certainty that Contergan is responsible for nerve damage
January 16, 1961
:
Negative articles about Contergan "are to be prevented"
January 17, 1961
:
Grünenthal suppresses knowledge of reports about damaged babies and children
February 15, 1961
:
Voss thinks nerve damage is irreversible
February 27, 1961
:
Dr. Sievers and Dr. Werner say Contergan doesn’t cause damage
March, 1961
:
Kelsey reads Florence’s letter in the British Medical Journal
April 21, 1961
:
A Grünenthal sales rep makes fun of patients at psychiatric ward who do not notice their nerve damage
May, 1961
:
Dr. Frenkel and others publish articles about nerve damage caused by Contergan
May 11, 1961
:
Kelsey asks if Thalidomide can harm a fetus
June, 1961
:
Lenz and Schulte-Hillen collect evidence in Northern Germany
Summer, 1961
:
Grünenthal wonders if Thalidomide can pass the placenta
September, 1961
:
The first article about the increasing numbers of malformed babies is published
September 26, 1961
:
FDA wants pregnancy warning included in instruction leaflet
October, 1961
:
Grünenthal informed about a malformation on a newborn possibly connected to Thalidomide
October, 1961
:
Contergan likely responsible for the malformations
October 3, 1961
:
Thalidomide disturbs bone growth in chickens
November 15, 1961
:
Lenz phones Grünenthal, demanding Thalidomide be taken off the market immediately
November 17, 1961
:
Dr. Lenz sends summary of his observations to Grünenthal
November 19, 1961
:
Lenz publicly talks about his suspicion
November 20, 1961
:
Grünenthal executives meet with Lenz in Hamburg
November 20, 1961
:
Grünenthal sends out 66,957 letters to doctors saying their drug was safe.
November 24, 1961
:
Grünenthal is informed about McBride’s warnings in Australia
November 25, 1961
:
The Ministry of the Interior informs several offices in Germany about the new suspicion against Thalidomide
November 26, 1961
:
The newspaper article that finally makes Grünenthal act is published
November 27, 1961
:
Withdrawal of Thalidomide from the West German market
Thalidomiders
July 22, 1960
:
Alvin Law is born
August 23, 1960
:
Niko von Glasow is born
September 26, 1960
:
Eileen Cronin is born
April 25, 1961
:
Jan Schulte-Hillen is born
February 27, 1962
:
Moni Eisenberg is born
March 2, 1962
:
Lynette Rowe is born
March 26, 1962
:
Paul Murphy born
June 23, 1962
:
Louise Mason is born
FILM
Screenings
Trailer
About
Team
John Zaritsky
Anne Pick
Bill Spahic
Film Credits
Press
RESOURCES
In Nazi Germany, hospitals for the disable provided a template for the holocaust.
Monika Eisenberg
I had to fight to survive
My mother and me
Hadamar - a dark shadow
No Boundaries
Monika Eisenberg and "minor guilt"
Remembering the victims
Monika Eisenberg Bio
My mother and me
Hadamar - a dark shadow
No Boundaries