Thalidomide (Thalomid) is a synthetic derivative of glutamic acid (alpha-phthalimido-glutarimide) with teratogenic, immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory and anti-angiogenic properties.

Thalidomide selectively inhibits the production of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) in human monocytes stimulated by lipopolysaccharides and other agonists. Its suppression of TNF-α is mediated through the enhancement of mRNA degradation. Moreover, thalidomide exerts a direct effect on MM cell lines by inducing apoptosis and G1 phase growth arrest, as well as on patient MM cells resistant to melphalan, doxorubicin hydrochloride, and dexamethasone.

Administering 200mg/kg of Thalidomide resulted in the inhibition of vascularization in the corneal region within rabbits, with the inhibition rate ranging from 30% to 51% across three experiments.