Thalidomide is a medication that was originally developed in the late 1950s as a sedative and later used to treat morning sickness in pregnant women. However, it was withdrawn from the market after it was linked to severe birth defects, including limb malformations, in babies born to mothers who took the drug during pregnancy. Despite its troubled history, thalidomide has found a new purpose in modern medicine. It is now used to treat certain conditions, such as multiple myeloma and leprosy, due to its anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties. Strict regulations are in place to prevent its use during pregnancy.