Deflazacort Is Leaving Canada and What Duchenne Families Can Do

Imagine taking the same medication every day for 20 years and then getting a letter saying it will not be sold in your country anymore. That is where Canadian families living with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) find themselves this month.

The only company that has supplied deflazacort to Canadian patients in recent years has told them it will stop, The Globe and Mail reports. DMD is a genetic disease that weakens muscles over time, including those of the heart and lungs, and it affects more than 800 boys and young men in Canada. Families now have limited time to find a new source or switch to another drug.

Key takeaways

German drugmaker Cheplapharm, the only recent supplier to Canada, says it can no longer support supply once current stock runs out.

The Canadian distributor estimates existing inventory will last until around spring 2027, according to patient groups.

The drug was never approved in Canada, so patients got it through Health Canada's Special Access Program.

Prednisone and vamorolone are the main alternatives, with different costs, coverage, and side effects.

Do not stop a steroid suddenly. Plan any switch with your neuromuscular clinic.

Why is the supplier stopping?

Cheplapharm, which shipped the drug through distributor Xediton Pharmaceuticals, told patients that manufacturing and supply chain challenges mean it cannot keep supplying Canada once existing stock is gone. Because the drug was never approved here, Canadians have relied on the Special Access Program to import it, a route that works only while a supplier is willing.

Health Canada told The Globe it cannot compel a manufacturer to supply a drug to Canada. Patient groups Muscular Dystrophy Canada and Defeat Duchenne Canada say they are looking for another global company that could ship it. They have also asked Health Canada, the manufacturer, and the distributor to work with them on alternatives, and their joint update puts the current stock at roughly spring 2027. That gives families months, which is better than weeks but still not much time to change a drug someone has taken for most of their life.

Alex Chiabai, a 26-year-old Carleton University student in Ottawa, told The Globe he has taken the drug for about 20 years, since he was a young child. For families like his, the uncertainty is the hardest part, and it shows how little control patients have when a drug is imported instead of approved, a gap our guide to who decides what in Canadian health care helps explain.

What are the alternatives?

There are two main alternatives, and each comes with trade-offs. Prednisone is a much older and cheaper steroid, while vamorolone, sold as Agamree, was approved by Health Canada in September 2025 as the first drug approved here for DMD. It is the higher-priced option and is not yet covered by most insurance plans.

Dr. Hugh McMillan, a pediatric neurologist at the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, told The Globe that prednisone costs up to perhaps a few hundred dollars a year, while deflazacort costs around $1,300. He said clinical research suggests all three work in similar ways for DMD, though their side effects differ, and long-term prednisone, for example, can cause excessive weight gain.

What if your own medication is discontinued?

The bigger lesson reaches well beyond DMD. Medications can be discontinued or run short for reasons that have nothing to do with how well they work, and patients are often the last to hear. Your pharmacist usually knows first and can suggest equivalent products, which is one reason our guide to what your pharmacist wishes you knew is worth reading before you need it.

Drug Shortages Canada is the public website where manufacturers must report shortages and discontinuations of approved drugs, so it is worth checking when you hear a rumour. Keeping an up-to-date list of everything you take, like our free medication list template, also makes a fast switch safer.

How do you plan a switch with your care team?

If you or your child takes deflazacort, the time to plan a switch is now, while there is still stock and time to sort out coverage.

Call your clinic now. Contact your neuromuscular clinic or prescribing doctor before supply runs low, so there is time to compare options.

Do not stop suddenly. Steroids need to be changed under medical supervision, because stopping abruptly can be dangerous.

Start the coverage paperwork early. Newer drugs often need a special authorization form for provincial or private plans, and approval takes time.

Follow the patient groups. Muscular Dystrophy Canada and Defeat Duchenne Canada are sharing updates as they search for another supplier.

Agree on a backup. Settle on a plan with your prescriber before you are down to your last refill.

Frequently asked questions

How long will deflazacort stay available in Canada?

The Canadian distributor estimates current stock will last until around spring 2027, based on average use, according to a joint update from Canadian patient groups. That estimate could change if demand shifts or another supplier is found. Ask your pharmacy how much it can order now, and plan with your clinic instead of counting on the full window.

Is prednisone as effective as deflazacort?

Clinical research suggests all three steroids work in similar ways for this condition, according to a pediatric neurologist quoted by The Globe and Mail. Their side effects differ, though, and long-term prednisone is linked to more weight gain. Your neuromuscular team can weigh those trade-offs against your child's age, growth, and health.

Will insurance cover vamorolone?

Vamorolone, sold as Agamree, is not yet covered by most insurance plans, though coverage varies by province and private plan. Many plans use a special authorization process for newer drugs, which needs forms from your doctor. Ask your clinic to start that paperwork early, and check with your plan about what documents it requires.

Your next step

If a medication you rely on is being discontinued or is hard to find, the first conversation is often with your pharmacist, followed by your prescriber. The Medimap Health Hub has more on medications in Canada, and you can find a pharmacy near you.

Disclaimer: This article is for general information only and is not medical advice. It does not replace a conversation with a doctor or other qualified health professional who knows your history. If you think you are having a medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.