Marathon pauses Duchenne drug launch after price backlash

Days after the US Food and Drug Administration and privately,-held Marathon Pharmaceuticals heralded the approval of the company’s Emflaza (deflazacort) tablets, an oral suspension for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), its launch has been held back by a major backlash over the proposed price of the treatment.

Last Thursday’s announcement and the pricing proposals for the drug prompted criticism from the public and politicians, and now Marathon has put those commercialization plans on hold.

"We have heard both support from the community and concerns about the pricing and reimbursement details"