Thalidomide was given as a sleeping pill to ease morning sickness during pregnancy in the late 1950s and the early 1960s. It was developed in Germany and at that time hailed as a great breakthrough because an overdose would not kill, only induce prolonged sleep. In the UK it was marketed as Distaval by the pharmaceutical giant Distillers.

However, it was found to interfere with foetal development if taken in the early stages of pregnancy. Many children died as a result of their mothers taking it, and nearly all who survived were born with missing limbs. More than 400 thalidomide victims are alive in the UK today, with a further 5,000 in other countries. After a long campaign by victims’ families, a multi-million pound compensation was agreed by the makers. Thalidomide was withdrawn in 1961.

It has since been found to prevent life-threatening reactions to bone marrow transplants and can help offset the symptoms of Aids and leprosy. Doctors are also using it to treat Behcet’s Syndrome, an immune system condition which causes severe pain.

The latest potential use for Thalidomide is to treat lung cancer after it was shown to shrink tumours in inoperable lung cancer. It was also successful in preventing the disease from returning. Doctors hope that it can soon be used to treat other forms of cancer.

Doctors are also exploiting the drug’s ability to block blood vessels and restrict circulation - the property which actually caused deformities - to tackle previously untreatable cancers. It restricts blood vessels and controls circulation around tumours, making it easier to deliver doses of chemotherapy.

A trial funded by the Cancer Research Campaign, involving 30 patients with inoperable lung cancer is under way at two London hospitals. These patients say that they are already experiencing the benefits.