Teva Pharmaceuticals has presented new data showing that its treatments Austedo (deutetrabenazine) and Austedo XR (extended release) significantly reduce involuntary movements and enhance quality of life in adults living with tardive dyskinesia (TD).

The findings, shared at the 2025 Neuroscience Education Institute (NEI) Fall Congress in Colorado Springs, highlight results from the ongoing Phase IV IMPACT-TD Registry.

According to the data, participants reported substantial improvements in movement control and daily functioning after three months of treatment. These real-world insights add to the existing body of evidence supporting Austedo and its extended-release formulation as effective options for managing TD symptoms.

Real-World Data Reflect Meaningful Patient Improvements

The IMPACT-TD Registry evaluated 27 adults diagnosed with tardive dyskinesia who received either AUSTEDO or AUSTEDO XR. Using the IMPACT-TD PRO, a 30-question patient-reported outcomes tool, researchers measured changes across five key areas: communication, eating, psychosocial impact, activities of daily living, and sleep or pain.

After three months of treatment, up to 77% of participants reported meaningful improvements in aspects of life affected by TD. Notably, 77% experienced better communication, 75% reported improvements in eating, and 65% saw psychosocial benefits. Additionally, 59% noted easier completion of daily tasks, while 50% experienced better sleep or less pain.

Objective clinical measures mirrored these results. The Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale (AIMS) total motor score decreased by an average of –2.9 points, confirming a measurable reduction in movement severity consistent with prior pivotal trials.

In addition to motor improvements, mental health stability remained largely intact among participants. The study found that 85% of individuals taking Austedo or Austedo XR alongside their psychiatric medications reported that their mental health condition either remained stable or improved.

These findings are particularly relevant since tardive dyskinesia often develops as a side effect of long-term use of antipsychotic drugs prescribed for conditions such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and depression. The study population reflected this diversity, including patients with bipolar disorder (41%), anxiety (37%), depression (26%), and schizophrenia (19%).

Understanding Tardive Dyskinesia and Its Impact

Tardive dyskinesia is a chronic, often disabling movement disorder that affects approximately one in four individuals who take certain psychiatric medications. It is characterized by involuntary, repetitive movements of the face, torso, and limbs, which can interfere with speech, eating, and overall independence.

“The silent struggle of tardive dyskinesia, with its relentless, involuntary movements, can deprive patients of their quality of life and independence,” said Stacy Finkbeiner, Senior Medical Director of Movement Disorders & Psychiatry at Teva. “These real-world findings are critical in showing how Austedo and Austedo XR can help patients manage their symptoms while maintaining mental health stability.”

Teva emphasized that the latest data not only validate prior clinical results but also provide a clearer picture of how patients experience treatment benefits in everyday settings.

Austedo and Austedo XR are vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2) inhibitors approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of tardive dyskinesia and chorea associated with Huntington’s disease in adults. AUSTEDO XR offers a once-daily extended-release formulation designed for improved convenience and adherence.

Both medications carry a boxed warning regarding depression and suicidal thoughts or behaviors in patients with Huntington’s disease. Safety and effectiveness in pediatric populations have not been established.

Teva’s portfolio consists of multiple neurological and psychiatric disorder. Last month, the FDA expanded the label for Uzedy (risperidone) extended-release injectable suspension, authorizing its use for the maintenance treatment of bipolar I disorder (BD-I) in adults. In August, the FDA granted expanded approval to Ajovy (fremanezumab-vfrm). The drug is now authorized for the preventive treatment of episodic migraine in children and adolescents aged 6 to 17 years who weigh 45 kilograms (99 pounds) or more.