What is Calcort (deflazacort) for?

Calcort (deflazacort) is indicated for the treatment of patients with several conditions. including:

• inflammation including asthma, arthritis, and allergies
• skin, kidney, heart, digestive system, eyes or blood conditions
• tumours

Calcort (deflazacort) can also be used to suppress the immune system in transplant operations.

Moreover, deflazacort has been frequently used for the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD)^{[5,6,7,8,12,13,16]} and is referred to as the most commonly prescribed corticosteroid for DMD in Canada^[1].

How does Calcort (deflazacort) work?

Glucocorticoids are a class of corticosteroids which occur naturally in the body and help to maintain health and wellbeing.

Boosting your body with extra corticosteroid is an effective way to treat various illnesses involving inflammation in the body. Deflazacort works by reducing this inflammation. It also stops reactions known as autoimmune reactions. These reactions occur when your immune system attacks the body itself causing damage^[2].

Is Calcort (deflazacort) approved?

Calcort is approved in several countries including:

• MHRA approved (UK)
• BfArM approved (DE)

Unlike most of our products, deflazacort isn’t a new medicine and is marketed under several different names across the world^[3,9]. Among several other countries, it is approved under the name Calcort in the UK^[10] and Germany^[11].

How is Calcort (deflazacort) taken?

Complete information about Calcort (deflazacort) dosage and administration can be found in the references section^[2].

Note: Consult your treating doctor for personalised dosing.

1. The Canadian experience with long term deflazacort treatment in Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
    Acta Myol. L.C. Mc Adam, et al., May 2012

2. Package leaflet: Calcort (deflazacort), [PDF] Sanofi S.p.a., December 2016

3. Deflazacort
    Wikipedia, cited March 2017

4. FDA News Release: FDA approves drug to treat Duchenne muscular dystrophy
    FDA, Feb 2017

5. Deflazacort. A review of its pharmacological properties and therapeutic efficacy
    H.M. Drugs.  A. Markham and H.M. Bryson, Aug 1995

6. Long-term outcome of interdisciplinary management of patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy     receiving daily glucocorticoid treatment
    J. of Pediatrics. B.L. Wong, et al., Mar 2017

7. Glucocorticoid corticosteroids for Duchenne muscular dystrophy
    Cochrane Database Syst. A.Y. Manzur, et al, January 2008

8. Deflazacort Improves Muscle Strength, Functional Outcomes in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
   Neurology Advisor. A. Ciccione, September 2016

9. Drugs.com. Deflazacort
    cited March 2013

10. Calcort 6mg Tablets, eMC
cited March 2017

11. DIMDI – Recherche-Einstieg – AMIS Öffentlicher Teil. Searched word: deflazacort.
      cited March 2017

12. Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy: From Diagnosis to Therapy. Molecules
      M.S. Falzarano, et al, Oct 2015

13. Diagnosis and management of Duchenne muscular dystrophy, part 1: diagnosis, and pharmacological and psychosocial management
      The Lancet Neurology. K. Bushby, et al, Nov 2009

14. Marathon Pharmaceuticals News Release: FDA approves Emflaza (deflazacort) tablets and oral suspension for the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy in patients 5 years and older
      Feb 2017

15. Efficacy and safety of deflazacort vs prednisone and placebo for Duchenne muscular dystrophy
      Neurology. R.C. Griggs, et al, Nov 2016

16. Summary of Product Characteristics [FDA]: Emflaza (deflazacort)
      Marathon Pharmaceuticals, Feb 2017