Neurocrine’s Ingrezza capsules show efficacy in involuntary movement disorders

Neurocrine (NBIX) announced the presentation of the first head-to-head data comparing vesicular monoamine transporter 2, or VMAT2, target occupancy between Ingrezza – valbenazine – capsules and Austedo XR – deutetrabenazine – at therapeutic doses. Results from the study confirmed that both compounds engage VMAT2; however, Ingrezza demonstrated significantly higher VMAT2 target occupancy and greater potency. VMAT2 inhibition is an established target for treatment of hyperkinetic movement disorders, such as tardive dyskinesia and Huntington’s disease chorea. VMAT2 target occupancy is a key measurement thought to be associated with the level of drug response in these conditions. Higher VMAT2 occupancy indicates greater engagement of the target, and inhibition of VMAT2 lowers excessive dopamine transmission associated with involuntary movements. The primary TO analysis demonstrated a least squares mean VMAT2 occupancy of approximately 76.5% for Ingrezza compared with approximately 38.3% for Austedo XR at therapeutic doses. All doses of Ingrezza and Austedo XR were generally well tolerated and consistent with the known safety profile of each compound.