Cleveland Clinic Journal of MedicineFast Onset of Action with Valbenazine for Treatment of Chorea Associated with Huntington Disease

The monoamine transporter 2 inhibitor improved chorea symptoms as early as week 2.

A recent study presented at the International Congress of Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders® has shed light on the potential of valbenazine, a vesicular monoamine transporter 2 inhibitor, in the treatment of chorea associated with Huntington disease (HD). The study reveals that valbenazine not only improves chorea symptoms but also does so as early as week 2, showcasing a fast onset of action.

Key Points

• The study was led by Raja Mehanna, MD, from the University of Texas Health Science Center.
• The research involved an indirect comparison of data from clinical trials in adults with HD.
• Both valbenazine and deutetrabenazine, another vesicular monoamine transporter 2 inhibitor, were found to have a therapeutic effect during the maintenance phase.
• Deutetrabenazine is currently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of chorea associated with HD, while valbenazine is under FDA review for this indication.
• The phase 3 trials of valbenazine (KINECT-HD) and deutetrabenazine (First-HD) showed significant improvements in chorea with active treatment versus placebo.

According to the Huntington’s Disease Society of America, approximately 30,000 Americans have HD.

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