ALTHOUGH THE DRUG THALIDOMIDE (thuh-LID-duh-mide) WAS PROVEN TO CAUSE BIRTH DEFECTS IN THE 1960'S AFTER PREGNANT WOMEN WERE GIVEN THE DRUG TO RELIEVE MORNING SICKNESS, SCIENTISTS NOW SAY THAT THE DRUG SHOWS GREAT PROMISE IN TREATING PEOPLE WITH A NUMBER OF DISEASES...INCLUDING AIDS. RACHEL GOTBAUM REPORTS THAT THE UNITED STATES FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION IS THREATENING TO CRACKDOWN ON THE SALE OF THE DRUG ILLEGALLY THROUGH UNDERGROUND BUYERS CLUBS.
Copyright 1995 NPR