* German firm apologises 50 years after drug withdrawn
* Victims in Britain and Australia say apology inadequate
* Gruenenthal says it could not have known effect of drugBy Annika Breidthardt
BERLIN, Sept 1 (Reuters) - Victims of thalidomide said on
Saturday an apology from the German inventor of the drug that
caused birth defects in thousands of babies around the world was
too little too late.
Thalidomide, developed by the German firm Gruenenthal, was
marketed internationally to pregnant women in the late 1950s and
early 1960s as a treatment for morning sickness. About 10,000
babies were born around the world with defects caused by the
drug, mostly malformed limbs or missing arms or legs.
"Having tried to remind them of their criminal behaviour
across a negotiating table on several occasions, I didn't think
this company would ever make things right," said British
thalidomide victim Geoff Adams-Spink.
"This is an important first step. The next is to compensate
everyone damaged by their so-called 'totally harmless' drug,"
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