Thalidomide works, in part, by blocking the production of tumour necrosis factor-alpha, a biochemical which promotes inflammation in the body.

ECONOMIST: Thalidomide

CytImmune Sciences of Rockville, Maryland, has just begun a study of the efficacy of Aurimune, a solid-gold nanoparticle that carries a dose of tumour necrosis factor (TNF), a substance that has a natural tendency to stick to gold.

ECONOMIST: Treating tumours