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Thalidomide:
Our Responsibility Today

The thalidomide tragedy is, and will remain, a significant part of our corporate history. Grünenthal’s family owners, and the company as a whole, deeply regret the consequences of this tragedy. That is why our engagement to improve the individual living situations of people affected by thalidomide is so important to us.

Read more on the background on our thalidomide tragedy website

For many years, we have been taking responsibility for the consequences of the tragedy by supporting individuals affected by thalidomide. Through our Grünenthal Foundation, we are working together with affected people to define projects that provide needs-oriented, concrete support. We engage with them in a continuous dialogue about their current and future needs, and align our support accordingly. These regular exchanges demonstrate how important it is to engage in personal, face-to-face communication.

For the Foundation team, personal communication with those affected is key to our work. We take the time to learn about individual needs and ensure that we’re offering support where it counts.
Grünenthal Foundation team: Tom Hermes, Dr. Stephan Frings, Susanne Schmitt-Degenhardt, Patrick Thevis
Tom Hermes, Dr. Stephan Frings, Susanne Schmitt-Degenhardt and Patrick Thevis, the Grünenthal Foundation team supporting thalidomide victims.

Through the Grünenthal Foundation, we will continue to maintain contact with people affected by thalidomide and will always strive to adapt our support to their changing needs. Improving their quality of life will remain our focus.

As part of these efforts, the Grünenthal Foundation has approved more than 5,300 individual applications from those affected worldwide. Additionally, the Foundation has created and implemented various national and international projects for broader groups of affected people.

Financial support

Financial support is provided by the Grünenthal Foundation, as well as the German government-run Contergan Foundation, governments of foreign countries, and earlier licensees of products containing thalidomide. Together, these institutions and companies provide an effective international system of financial compensation for each person who was affected by a product containing thalidomide.

Please visit our foundation website for more information about thalidomide and our engagement with those affected by it.
Infographic “Financial resources for people affected by thalidomide”
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