In early nineteen fifty-four, a German pharmaceutical company had began it’s clinical trials on the new revolutionary medicine called Thalidomide. At this time new drugs only needed to be tested on rodents to pass regulatory inspections, but researchers decided to take their studies further. During voluntary human experiments, they found Thalidomide to be incredibly effective at treating morning sickness and insomnia. Although classified as a sedative, Thalidomide soon earned the title of 'wonder drug'. Aggressively advertised as a panacea to all pregnant women and those who suffered from coughs, colds, and headaches, thousands of future mothers purchased this over the counter remedy, convinced that by taking it their first trimester ailments
