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Most Drugs Not Tested for Birth Defect Risk

The September 2002 issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology reports on the disturbing fact that more than 90% of new drugs on the market since 1980 are considered to have an “undetermined” risk of producing birth defects in the fetuses of pregnant women who take them.

All new drugs are tested on animals to see whether or not they produce birth defects. Drug companies then use that information to try and determine whether or not the drug will cause birth defects in humans.

One problem is that while animal testing may give some indications whether a drug is safe for humans, humans do not always respond the same way animals do.

Another problem occurs once a drug gets approval from the FDA. Drug companies then are not usually required to track what happens to humans after they have been taking a drug to check the long-term effects.

The researchers say they recognize that it is unethical to conduct studies in which pregnant women are given drugs to see if they cause birth defects in their children. They then go on to say, “however, almost all drugs are taken by some pregnant women.”

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