Thalomid and Rivlimid Product Labeling

How many drugs do you know of that have 29 pages or 47 pages of label information? Well, these two do. Both are a form of thalidomide and by the Celgene Corporation. Some of the information is very technical and intended for physicians and pharmacists but some is simply stated for the patient. This is information required by the FDA in the United States but no matter where in the world you are reading from, it provides important use and risk information.

Thalomid (thalidomide) product labeling

Revlimid (lenalidomide) product labeling

Celgene Reports Record Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2008 Product Sales and Operating Profits

Celgene Corporation patented THALOMID (thalidomide) and REVLIMID (lenalidomide – a thalidomide derivative) as well as other pharmaceuticals. If you think these drugs are being introduced slowly and cautiously, just take a look at the revenue for 2008 in this report. Also of particular interest, which speaks to the aggressive marketing, is the distribution of REVLIMID from about 30 countries to over 65. One of the many 2009 Corporate objectives is “Maximize the Clinical, Regulatory, and Commercial Potential of REVLIMID®, VIDAZA®, Global THALOMID®/Thalidomide and Pomalidomide in Nearly 75 Countries”. Be sure to scroll down to see their “Recent Developments and Highlights” and “2009 Selected Corporate Objectives”.

It is obvious that thalidomide is not only back, but is picking up speed around the world.

Celgene Reports Record Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2008 Product Sales and Operating Profits

Thalidomide – A Haunt From the Past

When I was a young teen, I went to the county fair with a group of friends like most kids do. I remember the tent we walked by several times advertising “freaks”. My curiosity peaked, I wanted to check it out but my friends said, “Don’t waste your money. It’s all fake stuff, a hoax, and a rip off.” They went on some rides and I decided I had to see for myself. What I saw that day changed my life forever. There was the 2-headed cow and the little person about three feet tall. Both behind ropes so you could not get too close to see if they were fake. But, that is not what grabbed my attention. Up close, I saw an unborn fetus in a jar of formaldehyde with no arms and legs, big posters describing the thalidomide caused birth defects, and pictures of babies who had indeed been born with no arms and legs. Okay, if this was a hoax someone sure had a sick sense of how to make a buck. If it was real, then how could anyone let something like this happen? How could they not know this drug would cause these horrific birth defects? Reality or hoax, the shock factor lived in my subconscious for years.

Fast-forward nearly 30 years. Pregnant with mild morning sickness, my doctor offered a prescription to alleviate the symptoms. I shuddered although I was not sure why the suggestion prompted such intense feelings. Fast-forward about five more years. I stumbled upon an article on the Internet regarding the approval of thalidomide by the FDA (for a different use). Suddenly, it all came flooding back to me. The images of unborn deformed babies and Thalidomide Babies born with no arms and legs. No, it was not a hoax. The thalidomide caused birth defects was a very real and tragic situation that occurred back in the 1950’s and 60’s. It unsettled me for a few days as I thought of how crazy this must be. I soon put all the thoughts aside after several thankful prayers for my healthy son. Now, a few years later more news seems to be regularly cropping up about thalidomide. More applications are being discovered all the time and more countries around the world are approving it for many new uses. This time, I find I cannot put the thoughts aside. We all have an obligation to our subsequent generations to pass on our knowledge and wisdom to them. That is why I have vowed to do what I can to increase awareness of the potential consequences of this drug when taken by the wrong person at the wrong time.

For starters, I have written two articles:

The Thalidomide Tragedy – Will History Repeat Itself?

Help Avoid More Thalidomide Baby Births

I feel like we are watching a big snowball rolling downhill, gaining momentum before it finally hits the huge boulder at the bottom of the hill smashing it to bits. Let’s all work together to change the path of that snowball before it hits the boulder.