The Thalidomide tragedy and our responsibility today

The Thalidomide tragedy will always remain a part of our company’s history. We will never forget what happened, and we deeply regret the wide-ranging consequences for the people affected and their families. On this page, you will find information about Thalidomide and how Grünenthal currently provides support to Thalidomide-affected people.

Our responsibility:
How Grünenthal supports people affected by Thalidomide today

As the company that distributed Thalidomide at the time, we believe it is a matter of moral importance that we are actively involved in charitable efforts to improve the situation of Thalidomide-affected people. For this reason, we established the Grünenthal Foundation. There is also a worldwide financial resource system through which affected people can receive support.

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The history of the Thalidomide tragedy

The Thalidomide tragedy continues to impact the lives of those affected and their families. Here, we take a look at the series of historical events that shaped the tragedy: from the fate of the “Thalidomide babies” through to the criminal proceedings against nine senior executives from Grünenthal and the creation of the Contergan Foundation.

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Thalidomide:
The substance and its consequences

What is Thalidomide? How does it act in the body? How is it used today? We provide an overview of the science, its development, and new pharmacological uses of the drug by other companies.

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News

Current developments on the subject of Thalidomide.

11/27/2021

60 Years after the market withdrawal: Dr. Michael Wirtz apologises to those affected on behalf of his family

On the occasion of 60 years after the market withdrawal of Thalidomide, Dr. Michael Wirtz, shareholder of Grünenthal, apologised to those affected and their families on behalf of his family. As company, we welcome this step.

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12/14/2020

The end of the criminal proceedings against Grünenthal: 50 years later

50 years ago today, the Aachen Regional Court terminated the Thalidomide proceedings against nine Grünenthal senior employees. The criminal trial is still considered one of the most complex and costly proceedings in German legal history. The legal and medical questions concerning the Thalidomide tragedy were complex and difficult to answer.

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