SAN DIEGO, USA, April 14, 2026
Neurocrine Biosciences has presented new real-world evidence (RWE) demonstrating that patients treated with INGREZZA® (valbenazine) show higher treatment persistence and lower switching rates compared to AUSTEDO XR (deutetrabenazine) in adults with tardive dyskinesia (TD). The findings, presented at a major scientific meeting, highlight the growing importance of real-world data in evaluating post-marketing drug performance and patient adherence outcomes, offering valuable insights for clinicians and healthcare decision-makers.
Real-World Study Highlights Treatment Persistence Advantage
In this retrospective claims-based analysis, researchers evaluated treatment patterns using a large U.S. healthcare dataset, including nearly 3,000 matched patients diagnosed with tardive dyskinesia. The study found that 55.6% of patients receiving INGREZZA remained on therapy after six months, compared to 48.1% for AUSTEDO XR, demonstrating a statistically significant difference in long-term treatment continuation.
Additionally, switching rates were lower in the INGREZZA cohort (7.7%) compared to 11.2% in the AUSTEDO XR group, indicating improved therapy adherence and stability. These findings suggest that treatment persistence may play a critical role in managing chronic neurological disorders such as TD, where continuous therapy is essential for symptom control
Short-Course Therapy Offers Durable Benefits
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A key differentiator of emactuzumab is its short-course treatment regimen, consisting of five doses administered over eight weeks. Despite this limited exposure, the therapy demonstrated durable and sustained clinical benefits, addressing one of the major limitations of existing chronic treatment options. This approach has the potential to reduce long-term treatment burden and improve patient compliance, particularly in a disease that significantly affects quality of life. The findings suggest that short-duration targeted therapies may represent a paradigm shift in TGCT management.
Early and Sustained Benefits Observed in Patients
The analysis further revealed that differences in treatment persistence emerged early and were sustained over a six-month follow-up period, reinforcing the durability of INGREZZA’s clinical benefit in real-world settings. Notably, the median time to treatment discontinuation or switching exceeded 180 days for INGREZZA, while it was 129 days for AUSTEDO XR, highlighting a meaningful advantage in maintaining therapy continuity. These outcomes are particularly important in psychiatric and neurological conditions, where treatment interruptions can lead to symptom recurrence, increased disease burden, and reduced quality of life. The results emphasize the importance of consistent medication adherence in achieving optimal long-term outcomes for patients with tardive dyskinesia.
Implications for Clinical Practice and Drug Lifecycle Management
The study underscores the growing role of real-world evidence in complementing clinical trial data, particularly in understanding how therapies perform in routine clinical practice. By leveraging claims data and advanced analytical methodologies, the research provides actionable insights into treatment patterns, patient behavior, and therapeutic effectiveness beyond controlled trial environments.
These findings support the use of INGREZZA as a first-line treatment option for TD, while also highlighting the importance of post-marketing surveillance, pharmacovigilance, and real-world analytics in modern pharmaceutical development. Furthermore, the results contribute to evidence-based decision-making for healthcare providers, payers, and regulatory stakeholders, reinforcing the value of RWE in shaping treatment guidelines and reimbursement strategies.
Advancing Understanding of Tardive Dyskinesia Treatment
Tardive dyskinesia is a chronic movement disorder characterized by involuntary, repetitive movements, often associated with long-term use of antipsychotic medications. The condition affects hundreds of thousands of patients globally, significantly impacting physical, emotional, and social well-being. Effective management requires continuous therapy to control symptoms and prevent disease progression, making treatment persistence a critical factor in patient outcomes. INGREZZA, a selective VMAT2 inhibitor, is designed to modulate dopamine signaling in the brain, addressing the underlying pathophysiology of TD and reducing abnormal movements.
The real-world findings further validate its role in improving long-term disease management and patient quality of life. The real-world analysis presented by Neurocrine Biosciences highlights the clinical and practical advantages of INGREZZA in maintaining treatment persistence, a key determinant of success in chronic neurological conditions. With strong real-world evidence supporting improved adherence and reduced switching, the findings reinforce the importance of integrating RWE into pharmaceutical decision-making, regulatory evaluation, and clinical practice optimization. As the healthcare industry continues to emphasize data-driven outcomes and patient-centric care, such analyses play a crucial role in shaping the future of drug development and lifecycle management
Source: Neurocrine Biosciences press release
