Teva Study Reveals Healthcare Provider Preferences for TD Treatment

Teva Pharmaceuticals, a U.S. affiliate of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., announced new findings from a discrete choice experiment (DCE) at the Psych Congress, held September 15-19, 2026, in New Orleans, LA. The study revealed that healthcare providers (HCPs) prioritize drowsiness risk, short-term symptom improvement, and drug-drug interaction profile when selecting a treatment for tardive dyskinesia (TD) in patients aged 55 years and older.

The DCE involved 489 HCPs representing various specialties. These professionals prioritized somnolence (drowsiness) risk (accounting for 26.8% to 36.2% of decision-making weight) and short-term symptom improvement (24.4% to 29.5%) as their top priorities when evaluating VMAT2 inhibitors for TD treatment. Dose formulation (16.7% to 20.2%) and drug-drug interaction risk (14.4% to 17.3%) also played significant roles in their treatment preferences.

According to the findings, AUSTEDO® (deutetrabenazine) was most closely related to the attributes most valued by healthcare providers. This preference was mainly driven by somnolence risk, duration of available data demonstrating long-term response, and drug-drug interaction. Eric Hughes, MD, PhD, Executive Vice President, Global R&D and Chief Medical Officer at Teva, stated, "At Teva, we are committed to developing therapies and delivering clinical solutions for TD communities that help eliminate challenges to treat. Offering a treatment like AUSTEDO, with attributes healthcare providers value, is essential to delivering effective, patient-centered care."

The study also examined the persistent burden of untreated TD. An interim analysis from the IMPACT-TD Registry, which looked at individuals with probable TD who remained untreated with any VMAT2 inhibitor for 24 months, found that TD burden persisted. Approximately 89% to 96% of participants experienced at least a mild global impact of TD, with 60% to 74% experiencing moderate-to-severe impact. Most patients (55% to 69%) reported stable or worsening TD severity relative to baseline, with no evidence of spontaneous resolution. Depression and anxiety scores also fluctuated over the two-year period without sustained improvement.

Tardive dyskinesia (TD) is a highly debilitating, chronic movement disorder that affects one in four people who take certain mental health treatments. It 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. AUSTEDO XR® Extended-Release Tablets and AUSTEDO Tablets are the first vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2) inhibitors approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of TD and chorea associated with Huntington’s disease.

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. is transforming into a leading innovative biopharmaceutical company, enabled by a world-class generics business. For over 120 years, Teva’s commitment to bettering health has never wavered. From innovating in the fields of neuroscience and immunology to providing complex generic medicines, biosimilars, and pharmacy brands worldwide, Teva is dedicated to addressing patients’ needs, now and in the future.