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German thalidomide maker Gruenenthal issues apology German thalidomide maker Gruenenthal issues apology
(about 7 hours later)
The manufacturer of thalidomide has apologised to the thousands of people born with disabilities as a result of their mothers taking the drug. The German company that invented thalidomide has issued its first apology in 50 years to thousands of people born with disabilities after their mothers took the drug.
Harald Stock, chief executive of German pharmaceutical company Gruenenthal, said it was "very sorry" it had remained silent on the issue. The drug, sold in the 1950s as a cure for morning sickness, was linked to birth defects and withdrawn in 1961.
The drug was sold as a cure for morning sickness in the 1950s and 1960s. Harald Stock, of pharmaceutical company Gruenenthal, said it was "very sorry" it had remained silent on the issue.
Mr Stock spoke as he unveiled a bronze statue symbolising a child born without limbs because of thalidomide. But his apology has been dismissed as insufficient by victims' groups.
'Physical hardship'
Mr Stock, Gruenenthal's chief executive, issued his company's apology at the unveiling of a bronze statue symbolising a child born without limbs because of thalidomide.
"We ask for forgiveness that for nearly 50 years we didn't find a way of reaching out to you from human being to human being," he said at a ceremony in the western German city of Stolberg, where the firm is based."We ask for forgiveness that for nearly 50 years we didn't find a way of reaching out to you from human being to human being," he said at a ceremony in the western German city of Stolberg, where the firm is based.
"We ask that you regard our long silence as a sign of the shock that your fate caused in us." "We ask that you regard our long silence as a sign of the shock that your fate caused in us.
"We wish that the thalidomide tragedy had never happened. We see both the physical hardship and the emotional stress that the affected, their families and particularly their mothers, had to suffer because of thalidomide and still have to endure day by day."
'Financial compensation''Financial compensation'
By the time the drug was pulled from the market in 1961, more than 10,000 babies worldwide had been born with a range of disabilities caused by the drug. By the time the drug was pulled from the market, more than 10,000 babies worldwide had been born with a range of disabilities caused by the drug.
This included shortened arms and legs, blindness, deafness, heart problems and brain damage.This included shortened arms and legs, blindness, deafness, heart problems and brain damage.
There are between 5,000 and 6,000 sufferers still alive, about 400 of them British.There are between 5,000 and 6,000 sufferers still alive, about 400 of them British.
BBC world affairs correspondent Mike Wooldridge says Mr Stock repeated the firm's long-standing assertion that it acted according to the state of scientific knowledge and all industry standards for testing new drugs at the time, an argument challenged by campaigners.BBC world affairs correspondent Mike Wooldridge says Mr Stock repeated the firm's long-standing assertion that it acted according to the state of scientific knowledge and all industry standards for testing new drugs at the time, an argument challenged by campaigners.
Martin Johnson, director of the Thalidomide Trust, told the BBC that the news that the manufacturers were starting to acknowledge responsibility was welcome but they were still trying to perpetuate the myth that no-one could have known of the harm the drug could cause when there was, he said, much evidence that they did know.Martin Johnson, director of the Thalidomide Trust, told the BBC that the news that the manufacturers were starting to acknowledge responsibility was welcome but they were still trying to perpetuate the myth that no-one could have known of the harm the drug could cause when there was, he said, much evidence that they did know.
Freddie Astbury, the president of Thalidomide UK, said: "It's taken a long time for them to apologise. There are a lot of people damaged by thalidomide struggling with health problems in the UK and around the world.Freddie Astbury, the president of Thalidomide UK, said: "It's taken a long time for them to apologise. There are a lot of people damaged by thalidomide struggling with health problems in the UK and around the world.
"So we welcome the apology, but how far do they want to go? "So we welcome the apology, but how far do they want to go? It's no good apologising if they won't open discussions on compensation. They've got to seriously consider financial compensation for these people.
"It's no good apologising if they won't open discussions on compensation. They've got to seriously consider financial compensation for these people." "We just want people to live a comfortable life and that means Gruenenthal have to pay for their mistake financially."
Some compensation has been paid, particularly by thalidomide's British distributor.Some compensation has been paid, particularly by thalidomide's British distributor.
Gruenenthal settled a lawsuit in Germany in 1972 and has voiced regret over the issue but has not admitted liability.Gruenenthal settled a lawsuit in Germany in 1972 and has voiced regret over the issue but has not admitted liability.
Compensation claims are still outstanding, including one key class action.Compensation claims are still outstanding, including one key class action.
Have you been affected by the issues raised in this story? If you would be willing to be interviewed on BBC TV and radio please fill in the form below.Have you been affected by the issues raised in this story? If you would be willing to be interviewed on BBC TV and radio please fill in the form below.