The effects of thalidomide were devastating. (Luciana Christante, Creative Commons)

The drug caused babies in the 1950s and 60s to be born with shorter limbs, heart problems, damage to hearing abilities and even brain damage, after their mothers took it while pregnant. It had been sold to women to counter the effects of morning sickness.

Thalidomide was pulled in 1961 after being linked to birth defects.

Some survivors have remarked that the apology issued Friday was unsatisfactory. One said, “It's taken a long time for them to apologize. There are a lot of people damaged by thalidomide struggling with health problems in the UK and around the world.”

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