Drug maker pushes pause on $89K drug after outcry

In an unexpected move, Marathon Pharmaceuticals announced Monday that it is pausing the roll-out of its now FDA-approved Duchenne muscular dystrophy drug—which has an $89,000-per-year list price. The announcement comes in the wake of intense outcry from patients, the public, and lawmakers over the drug’s eye-popping price, which Marathon announced last week. The drug, deflazacort, is a steroid treatment that slows the progression of Duchenne, a rare, devastating neuromuscular disorder that leaves mostly boys unable to walk by their teens (it's X-linked recessive). The disorder also shortens their lifespan to 25-30 years.

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