Birth Defects Res C Embryo Today June 2015 PMID 26043938

Thalidomide-induced teratogenesis: history and mechanisms.

Neil Vargesson

Mentions

115
Peak: 19 in Aug 2024
across 5 sources since Jan 2019

Extended reach

206,008
potential audience

Total likes

2,309

Video views

70,592

Mentions per month

Jan 2019 – Dec 2025

Where it's discussed

  • News48 articles
  • X / Twitter45 posts
  • Blogs16 articles
  • YouTube4 videos
  • Facebook2 posts

AI synopsis

What people are saying

The discussions reflect a mix of concern over past harm, supported by comments on the history and mechanisms discussed in the article, and curiosity about current uses, as seen in mentions of DNA mutagenesis and regulatory changes. The tone is mostly attentive and analytical, emphasizing the importance of understanding thalidomide's impact and ongoing relevance.

AgreementModerate agreement

Most discussions acknowledge the harmful history and mechanisms of thalidomide, showing general support for the importance of understanding its side effects.

InterestHigh interest

Posts express high curiosity about the research, especially regarding recent discoveries and how the drug was marketed and remains in use today.

EngagementModerate engagement

Several posts reference specific details like DNA mutagenesis and historical court cases, indicating active engagement with the article's content.

ImpactModerate impact

People recognize the significance of the publication in informing about drug safety and historical lessons, though some posts also mention its current medical uses.

Abstract in brief

  • Thalidomide was first prescribed to treat morning sickness in pregnant women about 60 years ago, leading to a major disaster where over 10,000 children were born with severe birth defects.
  • Although its original use caused harm, thalidomide is now used to treat certain adult conditions like multiple myeloma and leprosy complications, but recent cases in Brazil show new damage in children.
  • Recent research has improved understanding of how thalidomide causes birth defects at the molecular level, though some challenges in fully understanding its mechanisms remain for scientists.

Top posts

Most liked on X and Bluesky
They Keep Saying Its Rare
@mRNAdeaths · X

Thalidomide became one of the world's largest selling drugs, & was marketed heavily and advertised as completely safe, just like the Covid vaccines. "Particularly suitable for children & the aged" "Free from untoward side-effects https://t.co/qHXpStWZP4 https://t.co/46Hn27XhH2

Aug 21, 2024 · 37 likes · 22 shares · 22,194 followers View post →
Supernova Style Science News
@Supernova_Style · X

Go watch my awesome friend @MsBeautyphile she has out a new video on "is sunscreen safe?". She is so great on the chemistry of the beauty industry. https://t.co/IzNM9qjYNv

Sep 30, 2019 · 4 likes · 3,947 followers View post →
John Marshall
@mrthalidomider · X

Thalidomide-induced teratogenesis: history and mechanisms. - PubMed - NCBI https://t.co/Esg97G35jD

May 6, 2019 · 2 likes · 3 shares · 1,572 followers View post →
Daniel Zanou
@EdohAyao · X

Thalidomide‐induced teratogenesis: History and mechanisms - Vargesson - 2015 - Birth Defects Research Part C: Embryo Today: Reviews - Wiley Online Library https://t.co/CoVyhndVPp

Jun 15, 2025 · 2 likes · 550 followers View post →
Matter
@donutaddict15 · X

@N_Vargesson Good evening sir, I’m a Biology student from Texas and I just wanted to say that I loved your paper “Thalidomide-induced teratogenesis: History and mechanisms”. Have there been any recent discoveries about Thalidomide and Embryopathy? Thank you!

May 3, 2021 · 2 likes · 19 followers View post →
Michael F. Cannon
@mfcannon · X

@Neoavatara @CincyNomad Thalidomide for morning sickness was an off-label use. https://t.co/JfAM2WJ5GG https://t.co/OPlyWuY1lr

Jan 13, 2023 · 1 like · 11,694 followers View post →

All mentions

Daniel Zanou
@EdohAyao · X

Thalidomide‐induced teratogenesis: History and mechanisms - Vargesson - 2015 - Birth Defects Research Part C: Embryo Today: Reviews - Wiley Online Library https://t.co/CoVyhndVPp

Jun 15, 2025 · 2 likes · 550 followers View post →
よもぎきなこ餅にはニッキをかけて
@l5XSBcSIRk17082 · X

https://t.co/hbaTCKqMDu https://t.co/uccponLRAk

May 11, 2025 · 8 followers View post →
HUMANNAKI
@Humannaki · X

RT @mRNAdeaths: Thalidomide became one of the world's largest selling drugs, & was marketed heavily and advertised as completely safe, just…

Aug 21, 2024 · 22 shares · 1,305 followers View post →
Cheryl ☕️
@CPoppino · X

RT @mRNAdeaths: Thalidomide became one of the world's largest selling drugs, & was marketed heavily and advertised as completely safe, just…

Aug 21, 2024 · 22 shares · 6,498 followers View post →
Adverse Reports
@AdverseReports · X

RT @mRNAdeaths: Thalidomide became one of the world's largest selling drugs, & was marketed heavily and advertised as completely safe, just…

Aug 21, 2024 · 22 shares · 18,162 followers View post →
Chris Turner
@leadfreeH2OinDC · X

RT @mRNAdeaths: Thalidomide became one of the world's largest selling drugs, & was marketed heavily and advertised as completely safe, just…

Aug 21, 2024 · 22 shares · 2,865 followers View post →
Julie Steward
@jules_steward · X

RT @mRNAdeaths: Thalidomide became one of the world's largest selling drugs, & was marketed heavily and advertised as completely safe, just…

Aug 21, 2024 · 22 shares · 2,182 followers View post →
L Clarkson
@LClarkson8 · X

RT @mRNAdeaths: Thalidomide became one of the world's largest selling drugs, & was marketed heavily and advertised as completely safe, just…

Aug 21, 2024 · 22 shares · 449 followers View post →
Maria Katapodi
@Kamaref · X

RT @mRNAdeaths: Thalidomide became one of the world's largest selling drugs, & was marketed heavily and advertised as completely safe, just…

Aug 21, 2024 · 22 shares · 2,579 followers View post →
John Little
@JohnLittle2132 · X

RT @mRNAdeaths: Thalidomide became one of the world's largest selling drugs, & was marketed heavily and advertised as completely safe, just…

Aug 21, 2024 · 22 shares · 3,523 followers View post →
NemoMeImpuneLacessit
@nemo_impune · X

RT @mRNAdeaths: Thalidomide became one of the world's largest selling drugs, & was marketed heavily and advertised as completely safe, just…

Aug 21, 2024 · 22 shares · 2,772 followers View post →
BenJoRS2017
@BenJoRS2017 · X

RT @mRNAdeaths: Thalidomide became one of the world's largest selling drugs, & was marketed heavily and advertised as completely safe, just…

Aug 21, 2024 · 22 shares · 2,482 followers View post →
Me&G0d
@Child0fSource · X

RT @mRNAdeaths: Thalidomide became one of the world's largest selling drugs, & was marketed heavily and advertised as completely safe, just…

Aug 21, 2024 · 22 shares · 4,725 followers View post →
FaithOverFear
@fairhoverfear · X

RT @mRNAdeaths: Thalidomide became one of the world's largest selling drugs, & was marketed heavily and advertised as completely safe, just…

Aug 21, 2024 · 22 shares · 458 followers View post →
Infirmier (Mazout)
@Maz20974837 · X

RT @mRNAdeaths: Thalidomide became one of the world's largest selling drugs, & was marketed heavily and advertised as completely safe, just…

Aug 21, 2024 · 22 shares · 1,623 followers View post →
Fraser mckinlay
@cadiedorange172 · X

RT @mRNAdeaths: Thalidomide became one of the world's largest selling drugs, & was marketed heavily and advertised as completely safe, just…

Aug 21, 2024 · 22 shares · 3,789 followers View post →
Rinjani
@r1j4n4666 · X

RT @mRNAdeaths: Thalidomide became one of the world's largest selling drugs, & was marketed heavily and advertised as completely safe, just…

Aug 21, 2024 · 22 shares · 9,362 followers View post →
Ave Maria, PhD
@AveMari86640667 · X

RT @mRNAdeaths: Thalidomide became one of the world's largest selling drugs, & was marketed heavily and advertised as completely safe, just…

Aug 21, 2024 · 22 shares · 1,324 followers View post →
The Antiquary
@Ye_Antiquary · X

RT @mRNAdeaths: Thalidomide became one of the world's largest selling drugs, & was marketed heavily and advertised as completely safe, just…

Aug 21, 2024 · 22 shares · 180 followers View post →
American woman
@America40920105 · X

RT @mRNAdeaths: Thalidomide became one of the world's largest selling drugs, & was marketed heavily and advertised as completely safe, just…

Aug 21, 2024 · 22 shares · 9,863 followers View post →
They Keep Saying Its Rare
@mRNAdeaths · X

Thalidomide became one of the world's largest selling drugs, & was marketed heavily and advertised as completely safe, just like the Covid vaccines. "Particularly suitable for children & the aged" "Free from untoward side-effects https://t.co/qHXpStWZP4 https://t.co/46Hn27XhH2

Aug 21, 2024 · 37 likes · 22 shares · 22,194 followers View post →
Szabolcs Sandoly
@sandoly · X

@RefugeOfSinner5 B) People damaged by thalidomide (prescribed to treat morning sickness in pregnant women in the '60s caused DNA mutagenesis) can have perfectly formed babies. Thalidomide-induced teratogenesis: History and mechanisms https://t.co/703cv3qqoO

Nov 2, 2023 · 2,428 followers View post →
Al'ard Roi Tirrand
@RoyTyrrell1 · X

@HammersBagga @HelaRevenge @CKellyUAP Thalidomide-induced teratogenesis: History and mechanisms https://t.co/U8K5UwlQ50

Aug 17, 2023 · 802 followers View post →
Peter H Proctor MD, PhD
@peterproctor · X

@i11umin8ed @RyanMarino Thalidomide-induced teratogenesis: History and Mechanisms https://t.co/ey5bnJmOF2

Jun 19, 2023 · 2,086 followers View post →
living the dream.
@grampapaishere · X

Vargesson N. Thalidomide-induced teratogenesis: history and mechanisms. Birth Defects Res C Embryo Today. 2015 Jun;105(2):140-56. doi: 10.1002/bdrc.21096. Epub 2015 Jun 4. PMID: 26043938; PMCID: PMC4737249.

Jun 12, 2023 · 492 followers View post →
living the dream.
@grampapaishere · X

Hey, @TwitterSupport why is the link to this paper restricted? Thalidomide‐induced teratogenesis: History and mechanisms Neil Vargesson

Jun 12, 2023 · 492 followers View post →
Michael F. Cannon
@mfcannon · X

@Neoavatara @CincyNomad Thalidomide for morning sickness was an off-label use. https://t.co/JfAM2WJ5GG https://t.co/OPlyWuY1lr

Jan 13, 2023 · 1 like · 11,694 followers View post →
Donna Patriot Ancestor
@DonnaAncestor · X

@GeorgeMo @liz_churchill8 @ManInAmericaUS https://t.co/FNFxeCBrI6

Dec 29, 2022 · 2,077 followers View post →
Bad Pharma
@PharmaBad · X

@Plainly_D https://t.co/44cT0dVdqy https://t.co/hSrjAvkWGu You need to read and to understand these. It's a beginning. Say 'when' and I will drop the other 34 refs I used for my postgrad.

Jun 25, 2022 · 1 like · 12 followers View post →
Pharma Event Academy
@EventPharma · X

Thalidomide-induced teratogenesis: History and mechanisms. Birth defects research. Part C, Embryo today: reviews, 105 (2), 140–156. https://t.co/lWZUdbWAei 3. Anorak. 1968 In Photos: The High Court Agrees to Meagre Compensation For Thalidomide Victims. 4. McBride, WG(1961).

Jun 24, 2021 · 1 like · 90 followers View post →
Matter
@donutaddict15 · X

@N_Vargesson Good evening sir, I’m a Biology student from Texas and I just wanted to say that I loved your paper “Thalidomide-induced teratogenesis: History and mechanisms”. Have there been any recent discoveries about Thalidomide and Embryopathy? Thank you!

May 3, 2021 · 2 likes · 19 followers View post →
StopThe
@ChristianFrueh1 · X

Thalidomide‐induced teratogenesis: History and mechanisms https://t.co/76597yrTaL

Apr 23, 2021 · 1 like · 1,848 followers View post →
K. Finn
@AlgorithmDancer · X

Thalidomide‐induced teratogenesis: History and mechanisms https://t.co/VeoMy2MObV

Jul 8, 2020 · 2,251 followers View post →
Kal-why
@kaurvedilol · X

@VergilioPica @aquinaband @padilhando @OsmarTerra @drivansartori @alexandregarcia https://t.co/igI35Z8I9f Sugiro ler esse artigo... Traz bem o resumo da história e explica os mecanismo que leva às malformações

May 19, 2020 · 272 followers View post →
Supernova Style Science News
@Supernova_Style · X

Go watch my awesome friend @MsBeautyphile she has out a new video on "is sunscreen safe?". She is so great on the chemistry of the beauty industry. https://t.co/IzNM9qjYNv

Sep 30, 2019 · 4 likes · 3,947 followers View post →
ScienceSeeker Feed
@SciSeekFeed · X

msbeautyphile: Is sunscreen safe? (It's complicated) https://t.co/V2FK1BWjrq

Sep 27, 2019 · 1,028 followers View post →
Josemassive
@NmdlgKikesanse · X

RT @mrthalidomider: Thalidomide-induced teratogenesis: history and mechanisms. - PubMed - NCBI https://t.co/Esg97G35jD

May 7, 2019 · 3 shares · 148 followers View post →
Ⓜ️.
@MarianoGarmendi · X

RT @mrthalidomider: Thalidomide-induced teratogenesis: history and mechanisms. - PubMed - NCBI https://t.co/Esg97G35jD

May 6, 2019 · 3 shares · 364 followers View post →
Bonnie Gortler
@_Optionsgirl · X

RT @mrthalidomider: Thalidomide-induced teratogenesis: history and mechanisms. - PubMed - NCBI https://t.co/Esg97G35jD

May 6, 2019 · 3 shares · 1,137 followers View post →
John Marshall
@mrthalidomider · X

Thalidomide-induced teratogenesis: history and mechanisms. - PubMed - NCBI https://t.co/Esg97G35jD

May 6, 2019 · 2 likes · 3 shares · 1,572 followers View post →
Vanessa
@NoNumbersNess · X

@mrthalidomider @_Chris_Magee_ @GMB Distinguished Federal Civil Service to FDA physician Dr. Frances Kelsey for averting a thalidomide disaster in the USA which is what led me to believe the US was not affected but perhaps there were just less cases? https://t.co/P1Aieh7WES

Feb 23, 2019 · 1,239 followers View post →
Chris Magee
@_Chris_Magee_ · X

@Ness4612R @GMB Everything about its marketing was well shady. The thing about it only affecting niche species is a myth though. More here https://t.co/oMUJyM6Mnq . Also, did you know it's still used? Turns out to be a good treatment for cancer and leprosy.

Feb 22, 2019 · 1 like · 155 followers View post →
Ⓜ️.
@MarianoGarmendi · X

RT @mrthalidomider: Thalidomide‐induced teratogenesis: History and mechanisms https://t.co/dHqYspA05y And you are so wrong thalidomide was…

Jan 23, 2019 · 1 share · 364 followers View post →
John Marshall
@mrthalidomider · X

Thalidomide‐induced teratogenesis: History and mechanisms https://t.co/dHqYspA05y And you are so wrong thalidomide was in USA from 1956 to 1962 as samples

Jan 23, 2019 · 1 like · 1 share · 1,572 followers View post →
John Marshall
@mrthalidomider · X

Thalidomide‐induced teratogenesis: History and mechanisms https://t.co/dHqYspA05y

Jan 8, 2019 · 1,572 followers View post →