Teva presented new real-world and long-term data at Psych Congress Elevate 2026 showing AUSTEDO® and AUSTEDO XR® improve involuntary movements, daily function, and psychosocial outcomes in tardive dyskinesia, including mild cases, with sustained benefit during extended treatment.
Written By: Fariha Sameen, PharmD
Reviewed By: Pharmacally Editorial Team
New analyses from the IMPACT-TD Registry and the three-year RIM-TD study showed that treatment with AUSTEDO® (deutetrabenazine) and AUSTEDO XR® reduced abnormal involuntary movements, improved daily functioning, and produced clinically meaningful responses in more than half of patients with tardive dyskinesia (TD) by week 15, with additional gains observed during longer-term treatment. The findings were presented at Psych Congress Elevate 2026 and expand evidence supporting the therapies across the TD treatment continuum.
VMAT2 Inhibition and Clinical Impact
AUSTEDO and AUSTEDO XR are VMAT2 inhibitors approved in the United States for the treatment of tardive dyskinesia and Huntington’s disease-associated chorea. The therapies help reduce the involuntary movements that characterize TD, a chronic movement disorder linked to prolonged exposure to dopamine receptor-blocking medications, including many antipsychotics. Even mild symptoms can impair communication, social functioning, and quality of life.
This version is more concise, avoids repeating movement-related descriptions, and keeps the focus on why the disease and treatment matter in the context of the new data.
Real-World Outcomes in Mild TD
New findings from the IMPACT-TD Registry, described as the largest real-world study of tardive dyskinesia, evaluated patients with mild symptoms who initiated treatment with AUSTEDO or AUSTEDO XR. After three months of therapy, all participants experienced reductions in Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale (AIMS) scores while maintaining psychiatric stability. AIMS is the standard clinician-rated scale used to assess the severity of tardive dyskinesia movements.
Patients reporting clinically meaningful baseline impairment in activities of daily living, psychosocial functioning, speech, and communication also demonstrated improvements in these domains as TD movements declined. The findings suggest that even patients with milder disease may experience measurable functional benefits from treatment.
Sustained Benefit in Long-Term Study
Data from the ongoing three-year RIM-TD open-label study (NCT02198794) highlighted the importance of continued therapy. More than half of patients achieved a clinically meaningful AIMS response by week 15, while an additional 23% experienced meaningful improvement after week 15.
These results indicate that some patients who do not achieve an early response may still derive substantial benefit from ongoing treatment, reinforcing the value of long-term symptom management in TD.
Caregiver Education and Diagnosis
Teva also presented results from a caregiver-focused educational initiative developed in collaboration with patient advocacy organizations. Within six months of receiving TD-specific educational content through online platforms, 53% of at-risk care recipients discussed TD with a healthcare provider, and 34% subsequently received a diagnosis.
The findings highlight the potential role of targeted educational interventions in improving disease recognition and helping close persistent diagnosis gaps in TD care.
Clinical Implications
Eric Hughes, MD, PhD, Executive Vice President of Global R&D and Chief Medical Officer at Teva, said the new analyses provide a broader understanding of the patient experience and address ongoing challenges in TD diagnosis and management.
Richard Jackson, MD, Assistant Clinical Adjunct Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Michigan School of Medicine and principal investigator of the IMPACT-TD Registry, noted that even mild TD symptoms can substantially impair quality of life. He said the real-world findings provide additional support for earlier identification and treatment rather than delaying intervention until symptoms become more severe.
Strengthening the TD Treatment Continuum
The latest analyses expand clinical understanding of TD management, from early recognition and treatment initiation to long-term symptom control. Together, the findings extend the evidence base for AUSTEDO and AUSTEDO XR beyond controlled clinical trials and support their use across a broad spectrum of patients, including those with mild disease and those who may require sustained treatment to achieve meaningful clinical improvement.
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About the Writer
Fariha Sameen, PharmD (LinkedIn), is a clinical pharmacy professional with hands-on experience in patient counselling, medication review, therapeutic monitoring, and clinical documentation across multiple departments. She has experience identifying and assessing drug-related problems and supporting medication safety practices. Her interests include pharmacovigilance, ADR reporting, clinical research, and medical writing focused on clear, evidence-based communication.