Neurosedyn was the Swedish name of a drug manufactured on license by Astra (today known as AstraZeneca) for the German pharmaceutical company Grünenthal.

See thalidomide for more information on the active substance.

The Neurosedyn Scandal

Neurosedyn was manufactured by Astra for the Swedish market in 1960. As in other countries, the drug was sold as a sleeping drug and as an antiemetic to pregnant women. Eventually it was discovered that the drug was teratogenic in fetal development, but it took time before the Swedish medical board (the predecessor of the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare; Socialstyrelsen) realised what was happening and stopped the drug.

In Sweden, some 150 children with severe deformities were born, typically with missing arms and legs. The drug was banned in Sweden on December 15, 1961.

Compensation

In 2003, the Swedish government authorised an ex gratia compensation of SEK 250,000 for each of the 150 individuals that were subjected to Neurosedyn. According to an investigation by the Swedish Office of the Chancellor of Justice (Justitiekanslern), no blame falls on the Swedish government. This is however widely disputed.

On October 26, the government decided to raise the compensation to SEK 500,000 each.

Today, the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare demands rigorous testing of new drugs before they are approved. This is a direct consequense of the Neurosedyn Scandal.