TEL AVIV, Israel & PARSIPPANY, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Teva Pharmaceuticals, a U.S. affiliate of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (NYSE and TASE: TEVA), today announced new HD data will be presented at the Huntington Study Group® (HSG) Annual Meeting on November 2-4 in Phoenix, AZ.
“Through our discussions with the HD community, we understand the importance of providing treatment options that are not only safe and effective but set patients up for success by ensuring treatment regimens are manageable and tolerable,” said Eric Hughes, MD, PhD, Executive Vice President of Global R&D and Chief Medical Officer at Teva. “Knowing the unique challenges that this neurodegenerative condition can pose, we’re excited to share this latest data with the scientific community, further supporting that AUSTEDO is an effective treatment option for patients with HD chorea.”
Interim results from the 17 patients enrolled in the HD cohort of the START trial, a Phase 4 study investigating real-world utilization of AUSTEDO with a 4-week patient titration kit along with treatment success as measured at the end of treatment, show that by week 12:
- 50% of patients achieved treatment success as assessed by the Clinical Global Impression of Change (CGIC) and 63% as assessed by the Patient Global Impression of Change (PGIC)
- 41% mean reduction in total maximal chorea (TMC) score from baseline
- 92% of patients achieved a maintenance dose of ≥24 mg/day
- 71% of patients successfully completed the titration kit, with adherence averaging 91%
- 100% of patients who completed the satisfaction survey found the kit easy to use
“With 90% of HD patients developing chorea,3,4 it’s critical that treatment options can address the unmet needs of this community,” said Karen Anderson, MD, Professor, Psychiatry and Neurology at Georgetown University School of Medicine and Director, Huntington’s Disease Care, Education and Research Center. “These data reinforce that in real-world settings the AUSTEDO 4-week Patient Titration Kit enabled patients to titrate to therapeutic AUSTEDO doses with satisfaction, adherence, and effectiveness similar to results demonstrated in the pivotal clinical trials.”
Two additional posters will be presented at the HSG Annual Meeting. The first shares results of a chart review of seven patients who discontinued tetrabenazine because of ineffectiveness and then started treatment on AUSTEDO. TMC scores mostly improved with AUSTEDO treatment, and the safety profile was consistent with AUSTEDO’s known safety profile.
The second shows an analysis of the number needed to treat (NNT) and number needed to harm (NNH) for all three FDA-approved VMAT2 inhibitors. NNTs for treatment success based on CGIC and PGIC ranged from 3-4 and 4-5, respectively, for the VMAT2 inhibitors. Significant NNHs included:
- For deutetrabenazine: Diarrhea
- For valbenazine: Somnolence, lethargy, sedation, urticaria and rash
- For tetrabenazine: Somnolence, insomnia, depression, akathisia, anxiety/anxiety aggravated, balance difficulty and parkinsonism/bradykinesia
Together, the data provide additional insight into the real-world efficacy and safety of AUSTEDO for patients with HD chorea.
About Chorea Associated with Huntington’s Disease (HD)
Huntington’s Disease (HD) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease characterized by uncoordinated and uncontrollable movements, cognitive deterioration and behavioral and/or psychological problems.3 Chorea – involuntary, random and sudden, twisting and/or writhing movements – is one of the most striking physical manifestations of Huntington’s disease and occurs in approximately 90% of patients.3,4 Chorea can have a significant impact on daily activities and progressively limit peoples’ lives.3
About AUSTEDO XR Extended-Release Tablets and AUSTEDO Tablets
AUSTEDO XR and AUSTEDO are the first vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2) inhibitors approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in adults for the treatment of tardive dyskinesia and for the treatment of chorea associated with Huntington’s disease. Safety and effectiveness in pediatric patients have not been established. AUSTEDO XR is the once-daily formulation of AUSTEDO.
INDICATIONS AND USAGE
AUSTEDO® XR (deutetrabenazine) extended-release tablets and AUSTEDO® (deutetrabenazine) tablets are indicated in adults for the treatment of chorea associated with Huntington’s disease and for the treatment of tardive dyskinesia.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
Depression and Suicidality in Patients with Huntington’s Disease: AUSTEDO XR and AUSTEDO can increase the risk of depression and suicidal thoughts and behavior (suicidality) in patients with Huntington’s disease. Balance the risks of depression and suicidality with the clinical need for treatment of chorea. Closely monitor patients for the emergence or worsening of depression, suicidality, or unusual changes in behavior. Inform patients, their caregivers, and families of the risk of depression and suicidality and instruct them to report behaviors of concern promptly to the treating physician. Exercise caution when treating patients with a history of depression or prior suicide attempts or ideation. AUSTEDO XR and AUSTEDO are contraindicated in patients who are suicidal, and in patients with untreated or inadequately treated depression.
Contraindications: AUSTEDO XR and AUSTEDO are contraindicated in patients with Huntington’s disease who are suicidal, or have untreated or inadequately treated depression. AUSTEDO XR and AUSTEDO are 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 or valbenazine.
Clinical Worsening and Adverse Events in Patients with Huntington’s Disease: AUSTEDO XR and AUSTEDO may cause a worsening in mood, cognition, rigidity, and functional capacity. Prescribers should periodically re-evaluate the need for AUSTEDO XR or AUSTEDO in their patients by assessing the effect on chorea and possible adverse effects.
QTc Prolongation: AUSTEDO XR and AUSTEDO may prolong the QT interval, but the degree of QT prolongation is not clinically significant when AUSTEDO XR or AUSTEDO is administered within the recommended dosage range. AUSTEDO XR and AUSTEDO should be avoided in patients with congenital long QT syndrome and in patients with a history of cardiac arrhythmias.
Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS), a potentially fatal symptom complex reported in association with drugs that reduce dopaminergic transmission, has been observed in patients receiving tetrabenazine. The risk may be increased by concomitant use of dopamine antagonists or antipsychotics. The management of NMS should include immediate discontinuation of AUSTEDO XR and AUSTEDO; intensive symptomatic treatment and medical monitoring; and treatment of any concomitant serious medical problems.
Akathisia, Agitation, and Restlessness: AUSTEDO XR and AUSTEDO may increase the risk of akathisia, agitation, and restlessness. The risk of akathisia may be increased by concomitant use of dopamine antagonists or antipsychotics. If a patient develops akathisia, the AUSTEDO XR or AUSTEDO dose should be reduced; some patients may require discontinuation of therapy.
Parkinsonism: AUSTEDO XR and AUSTEDO may cause parkinsonism in patients with Huntington’s disease or tardive dyskinesia. Parkinsonism has also been observed with other VMAT2 inhibitors. The risk of parkinsonism may be increased by concomitant use of dopamine antagonists or antipsychotics. If a patient develops parkinsonism, the AUSTEDO XR or AUSTEDO dose should be reduced; some patients may require discontinuation of therapy.
Sedation and Somnolence: Sedation is a common dose-limiting adverse reaction of AUSTEDO XR and AUSTEDO. Patients should not perform activities requiring mental alertness, such as operating a motor vehicle or hazardous machinery, until they are on a maintenance dose of AUSTEDO XR or AUSTEDO and know how the drug affects them. Concomitant use of alcohol or other sedating drugs may have additive effects and worsen sedation and somnolence.
Hyperprolactinemia: Tetrabenazine elevates serum prolactin concentrations in humans. If there is a clinical suspicion of symptomatic hyperprolactinemia, appropriate laboratory testing should be done and consideration should be given to discontinuation of AUSTEDO XR and AUSTEDO.
Binding to Melanin-Containing Tissues: Deutetrabenazine or its metabolites bind to melanin-containing tissues and could accumulate in these tissues over time. Prescribers should be aware of the possibility of long-term ophthalmologic effects.
Common Adverse Reactions: The most common adverse reactions for AUSTEDO (>8% and greater than placebo) in a controlled clinical study in patients with Huntington’s disease were somnolence, diarrhea, dry mouth, and fatigue. The most common adverse reactions for AUSTEDO (4% and greater than placebo) in controlled clinical studies in patients with tardive dyskinesia were nasopharyngitis and insomnia. Adverse reactions with AUSTEDO XR extended-release tablets are expected to be similar to AUSTEDO tablets.
Please see accompanying full Prescribing Information, including Boxed Warning.
About Teva
Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (NYSE and TASE: TEVA) has been developing and producing medicines to improve people’s lives for more than a century. We are a global leader in generic and innovative medicines with a portfolio consisting of over 3,500 products in nearly every therapeutic area. Around 200 million people around the world take a Teva medicine every day, and are served by one of the largest and most complex supply chains in the pharmaceutical industry. Along with our established presence in generics, we have significant innovative research and operations supporting our growing portfolio of innovative and biopharmaceutical products. Learn more at www.tevapharm.com.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which are based on management’s current beliefs and expectations and are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties, both known and unknown, that could cause our future results, performance or achievements to differ significantly from that expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. You can identify these forward-looking statements by the use of words such as “should,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “target,” “may,” “project,” “guidance,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe” and other words and terms of similar meaning and expression in connection with any discussion of future operating or financial performance. Important factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include risks relating to the development and commercial success of AUSTEDO and AUSTEDO XR; our ability to successfully compete in the marketplace, including our ability to develop and commercialize competition for our innovative medicines, our ability to achieve expected results from investments in our product pipeline, our ability to develop and commercialize additional pharmaceutical products, our ability to successfully launch and execute our new Pivot to Growth strategy, including to expand our innovative and biosimilar medicines pipeline and profitably commercialize the innovative medicines and biosimilar portfolio, whether organically or through business development and the effectiveness of our patents and other measures to protect our intellectual property rights; our substantial indebtedness; our business and operations in general, including, the impact of global economic conditions and other macroeconomic developments and the governmental and societal responses thereto, and costs and delays resulting from the extensive pharmaceutical regulation to which we are subject; compliance, regulatory and litigation matters, including failure to comply with complex legal and regulatory environments; other financial and economic risks; and other factors discussed in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the second quarter of 2023 and in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, including in the section captioned “Risk Factors.” Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and we assume no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements or other information contained herein, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. You are cautioned not to put undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.
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- Hauser, R. A., Barkay, H., Fernandez, H. H. et al. Long-Term Deutetrabenazine Treatment for Tardive Dyskinesia is Associated with Sustained Benefits and Safety: A 3-Year, Open-Label Extension Study. Frontiers in Neurology (2022). https://doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2022.773999.
- Frank, S., Testa, C., Edmondson, M.C. et al. The Safety of Deutetrabenazine for Chorea in Huntington Disease: An Open-Label Extension Study. CNS Drugs (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40263-022-00956-8.
- Huntington’s Disease. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. https://www.ninds.nih.gov/health-information/disorders/huntingtons-disease#toc-what-is-huntington-s-disease-. Accessed May 15, 2023.
- Thorley, E. M., Iyer, R. G., Wicks, P., Curran, C., Gandhi, S. K., Abler, V., Anderson, K. E., & Carlozzi, N. E. (2018). Understanding How Chorea Affects Health-Related Quality of Life in Huntington Disease: An Online Survey of Patients and Caregivers in the United States. The patient, 11(5), 547–559. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40271-018-0312-x
