Neurocrine Shares New Data Showing Long-Term Benefits of INGREZZA in Tardive Dyskinesia

Neurocrine Biosciences has announced new findings from a post-hoc analysis of its Phase 3 KINECT 4 clinical trial, highlighting the long-term benefits of INGREZZA (valbenazine) for adults living with tardive dyskinesia (TD).

The results were presented at the 2026 Psych Congress Elevate in Las Vegas and add to the growing evidence supporting INGREZZA as an effective treatment option for people affected by this challenging movement disorder.

New Analysis Shows Meaningful Improvement for Most Patients

The latest analysis focused on patients who completed 48 weeks of treatment with once-daily INGREZZA.

Researchers found that 94% of participants either achieved symptomatic remission or experienced a clinically meaningful improvement in involuntary movements.

Symptomatic remission was defined as having absent or minimal involuntary movements across all seven body regions measured by the Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale (AIMS).

Earlier results from the KINECT 4 study showed that 59% of patients reached this strict remission threshold after 48 weeks of treatment.

The new analysis looked deeper into patients who did not meet that specific remission target. Among those patients:

• 86% achieved at least a 30% reduction in total AIMS score. 

• 67% achieved at least a 50% reduction in total AIMS score. 

These findings suggest that even when complete remission is not achieved, many patients still experience significant improvements in movement symptoms.

Experts Highlight Broad Clinical Benefits

According to Dr. Sanjay Keswani, Chief Medical Officer at Neurocrine Biosciences, treatment goals for tardive dyskinesia include both reducing symptom severity and achieving remission whenever possible.

He explained that the latest analysis shows INGREZZA can provide meaningful benefits across a broad range of patients, including those who may not reach the strict remission threshold.

The results reinforce the potential of INGREZZA to improve daily life by reducing the severity of uncontrolled movements associated with tardive dyskinesia.

Understanding the KINECT 4 Study

KINECT 4 was a Phase 3 open-label clinical study involving 163 adults with moderate to severe tardive dyskinesia.

Participants also had underlying psychiatric conditions such as:

• Schizophrenia 

• Schizoaffective disorder 

• Bipolar disorder 

• Major depressive disorder 

All participants received once-daily INGREZZA treatment for 48 weeks, followed by a four-week washout period.

Treatment started at 40 mg daily, with many patients later increasing to 80 mg based on effectiveness and tolerability.

Throughout the study, patients experienced meaningful reductions in involuntary movement severity. The average improvement in AIMS total score was substantial across both dose groups.

Researchers also reported that INGREZZA was generally well tolerated during long-term treatment.

Medicare Analysis Highlights Liver-Related Risk Factors

In addition to the clinical trial findings, Neurocrine presented results from a large retrospective Medicare claims analysis involving more than 176,000 patients newly diagnosed with tardive dyskinesia.

The analysis found that liver-related risk factors are very common among TD patients.

Researchers reported that:

• 90% of patients had at least one hepatic risk factor. 

• 44% had three or more hepatic risk factors. 

Common risk factors included:

• Type 2 diabetes 

• Hypertension 

• Obesity 

• Hyperlipidemia 

• Alcohol or substance use disorders 

These conditions are often associated with chronic liver disease or liver impairment.

The findings highlight the importance of evaluating liver health when selecting treatment options for patients with tardive dyskinesia.

Why Liver Health Matters in TD Treatment

Liver impairment can develop slowly and often goes unnoticed, especially during the early stages.

This creates challenges when choosing medications for patients with tardive dyskinesia.

According to Neurocrine, INGREZZA is currently the only VMAT2 inhibitor with approved dosing recommendations for patients who have tardive dyskinesia along with hepatic impairment.

This may provide healthcare professionals with additional flexibility when treating patients who have complex medical conditions.

What Is Tardive Dyskinesia?

Tardive dyskinesia is a neurological movement disorder that causes repetitive, involuntary movements of the face, tongue, limbs, or torso.

The condition is commonly associated with long-term use of certain medications that affect dopamine receptors in the brain, particularly antipsychotic medicines used to treat psychiatric disorders.

People with TD may experience symptoms ranging from mild facial movements to severe, life-disrupting motor symptoms.

The condition can significantly impact daily activities, social interactions, and overall quality of life.

It is estimated that at least 800,000 adults in the United States are affected by tardive dyskinesia.

About INGREZZA

INGREZZA (valbenazine) is an FDA-approved vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2) inhibitor used to treat adults with:

• Tardive dyskinesia 

• Chorea associated with Huntington’s disease 

The medicine works by selectively targeting VMAT2, helping regulate dopamine release in the brain and reducing involuntary movements.

One of the key advantages of INGREZZA is its once-daily dosing without the need for gradual dose titration. The treatment is also available as INGREZZA SPRINKLE for patients who have difficulty swallowing capsules.

Looking Ahead

The latest findings from the KINECT 4 analysis and the Medicare claims study continue to strengthen the clinical evidence supporting INGREZZA in tardive dyskinesia.

The data suggest that most patients receiving long-term treatment can achieve either symptom remission or meaningful reductions in involuntary movements. At the same time, the liver health analysis provides important insights for physicians managing patients with multiple health conditions.

As research continues, these results further support INGREZZA’s role as a key treatment option for adults living with tardive dyskinesia and seeking long-term symptom control.