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Neurocrine Biosciences’ Ingrezza allows patients use existing medications with no clinically meaningful changes in psychiatric stability

Neurocrine Biosciences, published a new analysis of Ingrezza (valbenazine) capsules, in the Journal of Affective Disorders, pointing out improvement in tardive dyskinesia (TD) symptoms in patients with primary mood disorders, with no clinically meaningful changes to psychiatric stability.

In the post-hoc analysis, INGREZZA significantly reduced involuntary movements associated with TD in patients with a primary mood disorder, such as bipolar and major depressive disorder, and was generally well tolerated with no clinically meaningful changes to psychiatric stability. Ingrezza is the first U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved treatment for adults with TD, a movement disorder that is characterized by uncontrollable, abnormal and repetitive movements of the face, torso and/or other body parts.

Roger S. McIntyre, Professor of Psychiatry and Pharmacology at the University of Toronto and Head of the Mood Disorders Psychopharmacology Unit at the University Health Network in Toronto, said that patients with mood disorders, such as bipolar and major depression, are typically high functioning and the abnormal movements associated with their tardive dyskinesia can be burdensome and lead to social isolation. He said that it’s important for those patients to be able to manage their involuntary movements while maintaining psychiatric stability with their primary mood disorder.

TD is associated with prolonged use of medications that block dopamine receptors in the brain such as antipsychotics, which are commonly prescribed to treat schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and depression. The abnormal and involuntary movements of TD can impact patients socially, emotionally and physically, causing patients to feel embarrassed or judged by others or withdraw from society and isolate themselves.

Eiry W. Roberts, Chief Medical Officer of Neurocrine Biosciences siad: “With the increased use of antipsychotics in patients with mood disorders such as bipolar and major depressive disorder, it is important that we understand and analyze the efficacy and tolerability of Ingrezza in reducing the involuntary movements associated with tardive dyskinesia in these patients. Data from our analysis of mood disorder patients who have tardive dyskinesia show that once-daily Ingrezza is an effective and well-tolerated treatment option that allows patients to remain on their existing medications with no clinically meaningful changes in psychiatric stability.”

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