SAN DIEGO, California, USA – June 8, 2026
Neurocrine Biosciences has presented new clinician-reported data demonstrating meaningful functional, physical, and socio-emotional improvements with INGREZZA® (valbenazine) capsules in individuals with tardive dyskinesia (TD) and intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). The findings, presented at the American Academy of Developmental Medicine and Dentistry’s 24th Annual Education Conference, provide important new insights into the broader impact of treating TD beyond reducing involuntary movements. According to the analysis, nearly all participants experienced improvements in TD severity after initiating INGREZZA treatment, with 89% showing measurable improvement within just four weeks. Clinicians also reported substantial gains in daily functioning, independence, emotional well-being, communication, and motor skills, highlighting the therapy’s potential to improve quality of life in a patient population often underrepresented in clinical research. The results further strengthen the growing body of evidence supporting INGREZZA as a leading treatment option for adults living with tardive dyskinesia while emphasizing the importance of addressing the wider social and functional burden associated with the condition.
Rapid Improvement Observed in Tardive Dyskinesia Symptoms
The analysis evaluated clinician-reported outcomes from individuals who initiated INGREZZA treatment between January and June 2024 and completed at least two months of therapy. The subgroup included 30 patients with intellectual and developmental disabilities, many of whom had significant psychiatric comorbidities, including schizophrenia and mood disorders. At baseline, approximately 70% of participants were reported to have moderate or severe TD symptoms, while 90% experienced impaired functional status and reduced independence because of the condition. Following treatment, clinicians observed improvements in TD severity in nearly all participants, with 89% demonstrating symptom improvement within the first month of therapy.
These findings are particularly important given that individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities face an increased risk of tardive dyskinesia due to long-term antipsychotic use, yet the condition frequently remains underdiagnosed and undertreated. The rapid response observed in this analysis suggests that early intervention with VMAT2 inhibition may provide meaningful clinical benefits for a highly vulnerable patient population.
Functional and Socio-Emotional Outcomes Show Significant Gains
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Beyond symptom control, clinicians reported broad improvements across multiple areas of daily life that directly affect patient well-being and independence. Among participants with impaired function at baseline, 96% experienced improvements in overall functional status following treatment with INGREZZA. Additional benefits were observed across several key measures, including independence, emotional well-being, social interaction, dexterity, and communication skills. Improvements in socialization with family and friends were reported in 92% of affected individuals, while 91% experienced better dexterity and 100% of participants with speech-related impairment demonstrated improvement following treatment.
Emotional outcomes also improved substantially, with clinicians reporting better emotional functioning in 85% of affected patients. These findings highlight the far-reaching consequences of reducing involuntary movements and suggest that effective TD management may positively influence broader aspects of daily living, social engagement, and caregiver interactions. Researchers noted that the analysis extends previous observations showing that improvements in movement symptoms are often accompanied by meaningful gains in overall quality of life.
Expanding Evidence for Real-World Benefits of INGREZZA
The latest findings complement results from Neurocrine’s KINECT-PRO Phase 4 study, which evaluated patient-reported outcomes in individuals receiving INGREZZA under real-world clinical conditions. Together, these datasets reinforce the therapy’s ability to improve not only movement-related symptoms but also the physical, emotional, and social challenges associated with tardive dyskinesia. Neurocrine emphasized that this analysis is the first of its kind focused specifically on individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, a population that often experiences substantial healthcare disparities.
As awareness of tardive dyskinesia continues to increase among healthcare providers, the company believes these findings underscore the importance of comprehensive treatment strategies that address both symptom severity and quality-of-life outcomes. With TD estimated to affect hundreds of thousands of adults in the United States, the new data provide further evidence supporting the role of INGREZZA as a clinically meaningful therapy capable of delivering rapid and sustained benefits across multiple dimensions of patient health and functioning.
Source: Neurocrine Biosciences press release
