Valbenazine Demonstrates Higher Persistence vs Deutetrabenazine in TD Patients
A real-world claims analysis found that adults with tardive dyskinesia (TD) treated with valbenazine demonstrated significantly higher treatment persistence and lower switching rates compared with those treated with deutetrabenazine, according to findings presented at the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP) 2026 Annual Meeting.
“Treatment discontinuation is common in psychiatric populations, and interruption of VMAT2 inhibitor therapy can lead to recurrence of tardive dyskinesia symptoms, associated increased disease burden and worsened quality of life,” said Sanjay Keswani, MD, Chief Medical Officer of Neurocrine Biosciences. “These findings highlight a higher persistence profile for INGREZZA and provide real-world evidence to inform treatment decision-making in clinical practice.”
READ>>New Real-World Data Highlight Long-Term Outcomes in Tardive Dyskinesia Treatment
Researchers conducted a retrospective analysis using IQVIA’s US Longitudinal Access and Adjudication Data (LAAD), evaluating adults with TD who initiated valbenazine or deutetrabenazine between March 2023 and September 2024. After 1:1 propensity score matching to balance baseline characteristics, 2,988 patients were included, with 1,494 patients in each treatment cohort.
Treatment persistence, defined as remaining on therapy without discontinuation or switching medications, was significantly higher among patients receiving valbenazine than deutetrabenazine over 6 months (55.6% vs 48.1%; P < .0001). Patients treated with valbenazine were also less likely to switch to another TD therapy (7.7% vs 11.2%; P = .0012), and median time to discontinuation or switching exceeded 180 days compared with 129 days for deutetrabenazine. Differences between groups emerged early and were maintained throughout follow-up.
The investigators noted that maintaining continuous VMAT2 inhibitor therapy is important because treatment interruptions are associated with symptom recurrence and reduced quality of life. They suggested that differences in persistence may reflect factors such as tolerability, convenience, or perceived effectiveness, although the study was not designed to determine the reasons for these differences. As an observational claims analysis, the findings demonstrate an association rather than causation.
