Research Area: Immunology, Neurological Disease
Biological Activity:
Thalidomide was introduced as a sedative drug in the late 1950s. However, it was withdrawn due to a teratogenic effect on fetal development. Thalidomide binds to inactivate the protein cereblon, which is important to limb formation. [1]There is now a growing clinical interest in thalidomide since it is introduced as an immunomodulatory agent used primarily, combined with dexamethasone, to treat multiple myeloma. The combination of thalidomide and dexamethasone, often in combination with melphalan, is now one of the most common regimens for patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma, with an improved response rate of up to 60-70%. [1]