> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.fdaweb.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# Sanders, Cummings Ask for Emflaza Pricing Info
- URL: https://www.fdaweb.com/sanders-cummings-ask-for-emflaza-pricing-info/
- Published: 2017-03-23T12:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-14T22:13:26.000Z
- Author: David McFarland
- Tags: Drugs, #legacy-id-D5138278

Sen. **Bernie Sanders** (I-VT) and Rep. **Elijah Cummings** (D-MD) have [written](https://democrats-oversight.house.gov/news/press-releases/sanders-and-cummings-request-pricing-info-from-ptc-therapeutics-for-critical?ref=fdaweb.com) to PTC Therapeutics CEO **Stuart Peltz** asking for information on the price the company plans to charge for Emflaza (deflazacort), used in treating Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. PTC recently acquired rights to the drug from Marathon Pharmaceuticals, which had announced a planned price of $89,000 per year.

In their letter to Peltz, Sanders and Cummings said the drug is widely available outside the U.S. for $1,000 to $1,200 per year. The letter says the Marathon announcement caused a backlash from patients, their families, and the medical research community. And it generated inquiries from lawmakers, who are raising questions about the orphan drug approval process, according to Sanders and Cummings.

“Although PTC has not yet announced its own pricing plan, we understand that your company spoke with members of the Parent Project for Muscular Dystrophy and are setting up a more detailed conversation with them and your health economist,” the letter says. “We urge you to keep the price of this relatively common steroid at its current importation cost. Doing so will allow patients to use deflazacort in combination therapies without going into bankruptcy. We would also like to know if you intend to pursue an additional approval of deflazacort as an orphan drug to treat juvenile arthritis.”