Germany's Grunenthal offers thalidomide victims 50M euros

German pharmaceutical company Grunenthal says it is planning to voluntarily pay 50.0 million euros ($77.4 million) into the Contergan Foundation in several installments in order to contribute to the lasting improvement of thalidomide victims' situation. The Federal Association of Thalidomide Victims conceived the model as a first, positive step, says the firm, which marketed the product that caused devastating limb deformities some 50 years ago.

Sebastian Wirtz, a member of the Grunenthal executive board, said: "I am very happy that the silence that has lasted for decades and been a burden for both sides is over."

Grunenthal wants to double the Contergan Foundation's capital stock with its contribution. These funds are intended to make an additional, individual sum possible, paid once annually to the victims. To this end, talks with the governing parties of the German parliament and the German Ministry for Family, Seniors, Women and Youth are going very well, the company claims. The governing parties are advocating that the funds be made directly available to the victims.