16 February 2017 - A newly US-approved drug with an $89,000-a-year price tag has been put on hold, owing to the latest uproar from advocates and lawmakers over high drug prices.

The drug, a steroid called deflazacort, was approved by the Food and Drug Administration last week. It has been available in Europe for decades to treat Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a rare, fatal disease that slowly attacks the muscles.

The rollout of the drug was temporarily suspended by maker Marathon Pharmaceuticals on Monday. Shortly beforehand, Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Elijah Cummings sent a letter to Marathon accusing the company of abusing a government drug incentive program and contributing to rising costs "for the entire health care sector."

The company's yearly estimate of $89,000 is a stark contrast to the $1,200 that some families pay to import the drug from overseas, raising questions about what the ultimate cost to consumers will be -- particularly for children with rare diseases who have few treatment options.

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