Teva gets FDA approval for AUSTEDO tablets to treat Tardive Dyskinesia in adults

JERUSALEM: Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved AUSTEDO^®(deutetrabenazine) tablets for the treatment of tardive dyskinesia in adults.

AUSTEDO^® was previously approved for the treatment of chorea associated with Huntington’s disease in April 2017.

Tardive dyskinesia is a debilitating and often irreversible movement disorder characterized by repetitive and uncontrollable movements of the tongue, lips, face, trunk, and extremities. The condition affects about 500,000 people in the United States and can be caused by certain medications used to treat mental health conditions or gastrointestinal conditions.

The condition affects about 500,000 people in the United States and can be caused by certain medications used to treat mental health conditions or gastrointestinal conditions.

“We are pleased to bring forward this second indication for AUSTEDO^® to treat the underserved tardive dyskinesia population,” said Michael Hayden, M.D., Ph.D., President of Global R&D and Chief Scientific Officer at Teva. “We believe physicians treating tardive dyskinesia will appreciate the therapy’s dosing flexibility and the ability to focus on directly treating the movement disorder and not disrupt the ongoing treatment for the underlying condition.”

The approval was based on results from two Phase III randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel group studies assessing the efficacy and safety of AUSTEDO^® in reducing the severity of abnormal involuntary movements associated with tardive dyskinesia (AIM-TD and ARM-TD).

“Our medical and commercial teams are looking forward to bringing this new treatment to patients and physicians working to manage tardive dyskinesia,” said Rob Koremans, M.D., President and CEO of Global Specialty Medicines at Teva. “The launch of AUSTEDO^® demonstrates our continued commitment to the treatment of movement disorders.”

Teva offers Shared Solutions^®, a free service to provide support to patients starting or taking AUSTEDO^®. The toll-free number for Shared Solutions^® is 1-800-887-8100.

About AUSTEDO^®

AUSTEDO^® is indicated for the treatment of tardive dyskinesia in adults. AUSTEDO^® is also indicated for the treatment of chorea associated with Huntington’s disease.

Important Safety Information

AUSTEDO^® can increase the risk of depression and suicidal thoughts and behavior (suicidality) in patients with Huntington’s disease. Anyone considering the use of AUSTEDO^®must balance the risks of depression and suicidality with the clinical need for treatment of chorea. AUSTEDO^® is contraindicated in patients with Huntington’s disease who are suicidal or have untreated or inadequately treated depression.

AUSTEDO^® is 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 (Xenazine) or valbenazine (Ingrezza).

AUSTEDO^® may cause a worsening in mood, cognition, rigidity, and functional capacity in patients with Huntington’s disease. Tetrabenazine (a closely related VMAT2 inhibitor) causes an increase in the corrected QT (QTc) interval.

A clinically relevant QT prolongation may occur in some patients treated with AUSTEDO^® who are CYP2D6 poor metabolizers or are co-administered a strong CYP2D6 inhibitor or other drugs that are known to prolong QTc.

Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome has been observed in patients receiving tetrabenazine. AUSTEDO^® may increase the risk of akathisia, agitation, and restlessness. AUSTEDO^® may cause parkinsonism in patients with Huntington’s disease. Sedation is a common dose-limiting adverse reaction of AUSTEDO^®.

The most common adverse reactions (4% of AUSTEDO^®-treated patients and greater than placebo) in controlled clinical studies of patients with tardive dyskinesia were nasopharyngitis and insomnia. The most common adverse reactions (>8% of AUSTEDO^®-treated patients and greater than placebo) in a controlled clinical study of patients with chorea associated with Huntington’s disease were somnolence, diarrhea, dry mouth, and fatigue.

Please click here for full Prescribing Information, including Boxed Warning: austedo.com/hcp/pi.