Deflazacort (trade name Calcort among others) is a glucocorticoid used as an anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory agent. It was patented in 1965 and approved for medical use in 1985. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) considers it to be a first-in-class medication for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Medical uses
The manufacturer lists the following uses for deflazacort:

In the United States, deflazacort is approved for the treatment of duchenne muscular dystrophy in people over the age of two. Adverse effects
Deflazacort carries the risks common to all corticosteroids, including immune suppression, decreased bone density, and endocrine insufficiency. In clinical trials, the most common side effects (>10% above placebo) were Cushings-like appearance, weight gain, and increased appetite. Pharmacology
Mechanism of action
Deflazacort is an inactive prodrug which is metabolized rapidly to the active drug 21-desacetyldeflazacort. Relative potency
Deflazacorts potency is around 70–90% that of prednisone. A 2017 review found its activity of 7.5 mg of deflazacort is approximately equivalent to 25 mg cortisone, 20 mg hydrocortisone, 5 mg of prednisolone or prednisone, 4 mg of methylprednisolone or triamcinolone, or 0.75 mg of betamethasone or dexamethasone. The review noted that the drug has a high therapeutic index, being used at initial oral doses ranging from 6 to 90 mg, and probably requires a 50% higher dose to induce the same demineralizing effect as prednisolone.
Deflazacort is sold in the United Kingdom under the trade name Calcort; in Brazil as Cortax, Decortil, Defcort and Deflanil; in India as Moaid, Zenflav, Defolet, DFZ, Decotaz, and DefZot; in Bangladesh as Xalcort; in Panama as Zamen; Spain as Zamene; and in Honduras as Flezacor.The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved deflazacort to treat people age five years and older with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), a rare genetic disorder that causes progressive muscle deterioration and weakness. Emflaza is a corticosteroid that works by decreasing inflammation and reducing the activity of the immune system. NDA 208684 was approved on February 9, 2017, as a Type 1- new molecular entity with orphan status. References
External links
"Deflazacort". Drug Information Portal. U.S. National Library of Medicine.