- New data revealed that healthcare providers prioritize drowsiness risk, duration of available data demonstrating long-term response and drug-drug interaction profile when selecting a treatment for tardive dyskinesia (TD) in patients aged ≥55 years
-
asserted
providers → reveal → patients
Across all four patient profiles, AUSTEDO® (deutetrabenazine) was most closely related to the attributes most valued by healthcare providers
asserted
AUSTEDO → value → providers
These findings from Teva detail specific healthcare provider preferences around tolerability and efficacy, while reinforcing the importance of treatment for TD
PARSIPPANY, N.J., Sept. 18, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —
asserted
findings → detail → TD
Teva Pharmaceuticals, a U.S. affiliate of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (NYSE and TASE: TEVA), today announced new data from a discrete choice experiment highlighting preferred healthcare provider (HCP) treatment attributes when selecting a VMAT2 inhibitor for the treatment of TD in older patients (aged ≥55 years).
asserted
Pharmaceuticals → announce → patients
The new findings were presented at Psych Congress, held September 15 – 19, 2026, in New Orleans, LA.
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findings → present → Orleans
“At the heart of every treatment decision for tardive dyskinesia is a patient looking for improvement in their burdensome physical symptoms, and the impact those symptoms have on daily life,” said Eric Hughes, MD, PhD, Executive Vice President, Global R&D and Chief Medical Officer at Teva.
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Hughes → look → Teva
“At Teva, we’re committed to developing therapies and delivering clinical solutions for TD communities that help eliminate challenges to treat.
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that → commit → challenges
Offering a treatment like AUSTEDO, with attributes healthcare providers value, is essential to delivering effective, patient-centered care.”
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providers → offer → care
In a discrete choice experiment (DCE), 489 HCPs representing a variety of specialties prioritized key attributes driving their TD treatment preferences for patients aged ≥55 years.
asserted
HCPs → represent → patients
Participants prioritized somnolence risk and short-term Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale (AIMS) improvement, followed by dose formulation, drug-drug interaction risk and demonstrated long-term response, as the key drivers for VMAT2 inhibitor selection across four different patient profiles.
asserted
Participants → prioritize → profiles
Applying these preferences to the available VMAT2 inhibitor treatment options, AUSTEDO® had the highest predicted choice probability across all patient profiles; this preference was mainly driven by somnolence risk, duration of available data demonstrating long-term response, and drug-drug interaction.
asserted
preference → apply → response
Data from the DCE revealed:
- HCPs identified somnolence (drowsiness) risk (accounting for 26.8% - 36.2% of decision-making weight) and short-term symptom improvement (24.4% - 29.5%) as their top priorities when evaluating VMAT2 inhibitors for TD treatment, followed by dose formulation (16.7% - 20.2%) and drug-drug interaction risk (14.4% - 17.3%).
- HCPs distinctly adapt their prescribing criteria based on patient presentation.
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HCPs → reveal → presentation
The risk of somnolence was prioritized higher for outpatients (ex-long-term care) (up to 36.2% decision weight) than for those being treated in long-term care settings (up to 29.5%).
asserted
risk → prioritize → settings
- Driven directly by these clinical priorities, HCPs were predicted to prefer AUSTEDO across all four patient profiles.
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HCPs → drive → profiles
“Selecting a treatment for those living with tardive dyskinesia involves weighing a range of factors, from symptom improvement and tolerability to practical considerations,” said Gustavo Alva, MD, board-certified psychiatrist.
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Alva → select → considerations
“By shedding light on the attributes healthcare professionals prioritize, these findings may support more informed, individualized treatment discussions and provide healthcare providers with greater confidence in selecting a TD treatment that addresses immediate patient needs and supports long-term treatment success.”
Persistent Burden of Untreated TD
Also presented at Psych Congress, a new interim analysis from the IMPACT-TD Registry examined changes in TD severity and quality of life for individuals with probable TD who remained untreated with any VMAT2 inhibitor for 24 months.
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who → shed → months
TD burden persisted, with approximately 89%–96% of participants experiencing at least a mild global impact of TD, including 60%–74% who experienced moderate-to-severe impact.
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who → persist → impact
Most patients (55%–69%) reported stable or worsening TD severity relative to baseline, with no evidence of spontaneous resolution.
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patients → report → resolution
Depression and anxiety scores also fluctuated over the two-year period without sustained improvement.
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scores → fluctuate → improvement
Together, these findings reinforce the critical need for proactive, effective management of TD.
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findings → reinforce → TD
By understanding the enduring consequences of untreated TD in the real-world, as well as the specific treatment attributes HCPs value most, like early symptom control and tolerability, Teva remains deeply committed to advancing care, empowering HCPs and driving long-term adherence for patients managing this complex condition.
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Teva → understand → condition
About Tardive Dyskinesia (TD)
Tardive dyskinesia (TD) is a highly debilitating, chronic movement disorder that affects one in four people who take certain mental health treatments and is characterized by uncontrollable, abnormal and repetitive movements of the face, torso and/or other body parts, which may be disruptive and negatively impact individuals.1,2,3
About AUSTEDO XR® Extended-Release Tablets and AUSTEDO Tablets
AUSTEDO XR and AUSTEDO are the first vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2) inhibitors approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in adults for the treatment of tardive dyskinesia and for the treatment of chorea associated with Huntington’s disease.
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XR → affect → disease
Safety and effectiveness in pediatric patients have not been established.
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Safety → establish → patients
AUSTEDO XR is the once-daily formulation of AUSTEDO.
INDICATIONS AND USAGE
AUSTEDO XR (deutetrabenazine) extended-release tablets and AUSTEDO (deutetrabenazine) tablets are indicated in adults for the treatment of chorea associated with Huntington’s disease and for the treatment of tardive dyskinesia.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
Depression and Suicidality in Patients with Huntington’s Disease: AUSTEDO XR and AUSTEDO can increase the risk of depression and suicidal thoughts and behavior (suicidality) in patients with Huntington’s disease.
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XR → indicate → disease
AUSTEDO XR and AUSTEDO are contraindicated in patients who are suicidal, and in patients with untreated or inadequately treated depression.
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who → contraindicate → depression
AUSTEDO XR and AUSTEDO are contraindicated in patients with Huntington’s disease who are suicidal, or have untreated or inadequately treated depression.
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who → contraindicate → depression
AUSTEDO XR and AUSTEDO are also contraindicated in: patients with hepatic impairment; patients taking reserpine or within 20 days of discontinuing reserpine; patients taking monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), or within 14 days of discontinuing MAOI therapy; and patients taking tetrabenazine or valbenazine.
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XR → contraindicate → tetrabenazine
AUSTEDO XR and AUSTEDO may cause a worsening in mood, cognition, rigidity, and functional capacity.
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XR → cause → mood
Prescribers should periodically re-
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Prescribers → re → ?
QTc Prolongation: AUSTEDO XR and AUSTEDO may prolong the QT interval, but the degree of QT prolongation is not clinically significant when AUSTEDO XR or AUSTEDO is administered within the recommended dosage range.
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XR → prolong → range
AUSTEDO XR and AUSTEDO should be avoided in patients with congenital long QT syndrome and in patients with a history of cardiac arrhythmias.
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XR → avoid → arrhythmias
Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS), a potentially fatal symptom complex reported in association with drugs that reduce dopaminergic transmission, has been observed in patients receiving tetrabenazine.
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that → report → tetrabenazine
The risk may be increased by concomitant use of dopamine antagonists or antipsychotics.
uncertain
risk → increase → antagonists
The management of NMS should include immediate discontinuation of AUSTEDO XR and AUSTEDO; intensive symptomatic treatment and medical monitoring; and treatment of any concomitant serious medical problems.
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management → include → problems
AUSTEDO XR and AUSTEDO may increase the risk of akathisia, agitation, and restlessness.
uncertain
XR → increase → akathisia
The risk of akathisia may be increased by concomitant use of dopamine antagonists or antipsychotics.
uncertain
risk → increase → antagonists
If a patient develops akathisia, the AUSTEDO XR or AUSTEDO dose should be reduced; some patients may require discontinuation of therapy.
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patients → develop → therapy
AUSTEDO XR and AUSTEDO may cause parkinsonism in patients with Huntington’s disease or tardive dyskinesia.
uncertain
XR → cause → disease
Parkinsonism has also been observed with other VMAT2 inhibitors.
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Parkinsonism → observe → inhibitors
The risk of parkinsonism may be increased by concomitant use of dopamine antagonists or antipsychotics.
uncertain
risk → increase → antagonists
…and 16 more, not listed.
The Aporia
