Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc. announced the presentation of new real-world evidence demonstrating that adult patients with tardive dyskinesia receiving INGREZZA (valbenazine) capsules showed higher treatment persistence compared to those on AUSTEDO XR (deutetrabenazine). This retrospective, real-world claims analysis is the first published study to directly compare treatment persistence ? defined as remaining on therapy without discontinuation or switching medications ?
between INGREZZA and AUSTEDO XR in matched tardive dyskinesia (TD) patient cohorts. Over a six-month follow-up period, patients treated with INGREZZA demonstrated statistically greater treatment continuation and lower switching rates than those receiving AUSTEDO XR. Differences in treatment persistence emerged early and were sustained throughout the six-month period, highlighting durable treatment continuation patterns.
The analysis used IQVIA's U.S. Longitudinal Access and Adjudication Data (LAAD), integrating pharmacy and medical claim information. The study period ranged from September 1, 2022 to March 31, 2025 (30 months), including adult patients with TD who initiated either INGREZZA or AUSTEDO XR between March 1, 2023 and September 30, 2024 (18 months). Eligible patients had =1 pharmacy claim during both the 6-month baseline and follow-up periods, =1 claim for either INGREZZA or AUSTEDO XR during the selection period and =1 claim with a diagnosis of TD during the study period.
Ultimately, the analysis included 2,988 eligible patients split between cohorts who started on either INGREZZA (n=1,494) or AUSTEDO XR (n=1,494), using propensity score matching (1:1) to create balanced cohorts accounting for baseline demographics, comorbidities, psychiatric conditions and antipsychotic use. Over the 6-month follow-up period: Significantly more patients persisted with their initial TD therapy in the cohort who started on INGREZZA (55.6%) compared to those who started on AUSTEDO XR (48.1%). Switching to another TD therapy at any time during the follow-up period was significantly less frequent in the INGREZZA cohort (7.7%) compared to AUSTEDO XR (11.2%).
The median time to discontinuation or switch from the initial therapy was 129 days for the AUSTEDO XR cohort, while the median was not reached for the INGREZZA cohort (>180 days), indicating significantly longer time to discontinuation or switch. Measure INGREZZA AUSTEDO XR Percent treatment persistence after =6 months 55.6% (830/1,494) 48.1% (718/1,494) Percent of patients that switched from initial therapy 7.7% (115/1,494) 11.2% (167/1,494) Median time to treatment discontinuation or switch (days) >180 129. Findings from this analysis are built on prior clinical evidence demonstrating the impact of INGREZZA on TD symptoms and patient-reported outcomes.
In clinical studies, including the Phase 4 KINECT-PRO study, treatment with INGREZZA improved TD severity and was associated with meaningful improvements in patient-reported outcomes, including physical, social and emotional functioning. In addition, in the KINECT-PRO study, 57.8% of patients who continued treatment with INGREZZA achieved symptomatic remission after 24 weeks, defined as minimal or no involuntary movements (Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale [AIMS] score =1 in each body region [items 1-7]). Together, the real-world and clinical evidence underscore the importance of sustained treatment of TD and the utility of INGREZZA as a first-line therapy for the condition.
