Not true about thalidomide:: (A) Causes phocomelia, (B) Not tested in pregnant animals before introduction, (C) Still has restricted clinical use, (D) Has no antiangiogenesis action against tumour
Answer is D. Ans. (D) Has no antiangiogenesis action against tumour(Ref: KDT 6/e p84, 834)Thalidomide was banned in 1960 because of its teratogenic effect of phocomelia (seal like limbs). It has anxiolytic, adjuvant analgesic/antipyretic properties and has been found to counteract cancer associated cachexia.Its mechanism of action is by suppressing TNF and or by modulating IL-2.Recently it has been reintroduced as antineoplastic drug due to its anti-angiogenesis action.