Valbenazine
IngrezzaPubChem CID 24795069 · 3D model
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Turns into an active form in the body that quiets down dopamine release from nerve cells, easing the involuntary movements of tardive dyskinesia and Huntington's disease chorea.
How it works
Valbenazine doesn't do anything on its own — the body converts it into an active form after you swallow it. That active form works inside nerve cells, turning down a 'loading dock' called VMAT2 that normally packages the brain chemical dopamine (and some related chemicals) into little storage sacs before it's released. With less dopamine getting packaged and released, the involuntary muscle movements of tardive dyskinesia and Huntington's disease chorea are reduced. This is different from older drugs that block dopamine's docking sites on the receiving side of the nerve connection — valbenazine instead turns down how much dopamine gets sent out in the first place.
What it’s used for
Valbenazine is approved for adults with two different movement conditions: tardive dyskinesia (repetitive, involuntary movements, often a side effect of long-term antipsychotic medication) and chorea from Huntington's disease (uncontrolled, dance-like movements caused by this genetic condition). It was first approved for tardive dyskinesia in 2017, and later approved for Huntington's chorea in 2023.
- Mechanism
- VMAT2 inhibitor (prodrug)
- Drug class
- Small molecule
- Therapeutic area
- Neurology