This is an archive article published on December 19, 2011

Suit against Thalidomide maker set for Australia

Given to pregnant women in 1950s for morning sickness,Thalidomide caused several birth defects.

Written by: Associated Press

1 min readSydneyDec 19, 2011 03:14 PM IST First published on: Dec 19, 2011 at 03:14 PM IST

Members of an Australian class action lawsuit who blame a German pharmaceutical company’s anti-morning sickness drug,Thalidomide,for causing birth defects have won the right to have their case heard in their own country.

German drugmaker Grunenthal had requested that the lawsuit over thalidomide be heard in Germany,because the company and many of its witnesses are based there. But the Victoria state Supreme Court dismissed Grunenthal’s application on Monday.

Thalidomide was given to pregnant women in the 1950s and 1960s as a treatment for morning sickness. It was later linked to birth defects.

Australian Lynette Rowe was born without arms or legs after her mother took thalidomide while pregnant. She is leading the Australian class action.