Marathon Pharmaceuticals announced it was dropping out of the industry lobbying group PhRMA, according to Kaiser Health News.
Here are four notes:
1. In an email to KHN, a Marathon spokesperson said the company opted to leave the group after it said membership value did not meet or exceed the substantial "financial and time commitment required" for membership.
2. News of the company's departure follows criticism of Marathon pricing its Duchenne muscular dystrophy drug, Emflaza, for $89,000, according to KHN.
3. Marathon said it would "pause" launching the drug following the criticism and sold the drug to PTC Therapeutic in March for $140 million in cash and stock.
4. In a note obtained by Becker's ASC Review, Marathon wrote the following to PhRMA in a letter, "I am writing to inform you of the successful close of Marathon's transaction with PTC Therapeuticsin which PTC has acquired full rights to the FDA-approved drug, EMFLAZA™ (deflazacort). You can view the press release issued by PTC today regarding the close of this transaction here. With Marathon's sale of EMFLAZA to PTC, Marathon is discontinuing its membership in all relevant trade associations."
