Teva Pharmaceuticals announced new data from a discrete choice experiment revealing that healthcare providers (HCPs) prioritize somnolence risk and short-term symptom improvement when selecting treatments for tardive dyskinesia (TD) in patients aged 55 years or older.

The findings, presented at Psych Congress in New Orleans from September 15 – 19, 2026, indicate that AUSTEDO (deutetrabenazine) had the highest predicted choice probability across all four patient profiles studied. This preference was driven primarily by the drug’s somnolence risk profile, duration of available data demonstrating long-term response, and drug-drug interaction characteristics.

HCP Preference Driven by Tolerability and Efficacy

In the study involving 489 HCPs across various specialties, participants evaluated key attributes driving their TD treatment preferences. The data highlighted specific decision-making weights assigned to different clinical factors:

HCPs adapted their prescribing criteria based on patient presentation settings. The risk of somnolence carried higher priority for outpatients previously in long-term care, accounting for up to 36.2% of decision weight, compared to up to 29.5% for those currently in long-term care settings.

What the Numbers Show

Somnolence risk and short-term symptom improvement collectively account for approximately 50% to 65% of the total decision-making weight identified in the study. This concentration suggests that tolerability and immediate efficacy are the dominant drivers for VMAT2 inhibitor selection in this demographic, outweighing logistical factors like dose formulation and drug-drug interaction risks combined.

Persistent Burden of Untreated TD

Also presented at the conference, an interim analysis from the IMPACT-TD Registry examined outcomes for individuals with probable TD who remained untreated with any VMAT2 inhibitor for 24 months. The data showed that TD burden persisted without spontaneous resolution:

• Approximately 89%–96% of participants experienced at least a mild global impact of TD.
• 60%–74% experienced moderate-to-severe impact.
• Most patients (55%–69%) reported stable or worsening TD severity relative to baseline.

Depression and anxiety scores fluctuated over the two-year period without sustained improvement.

Eric Hughes, MD, PhD, Executive Vice President, Global R&D and Chief Medical Officer at Teva, stated that offering treatments with attributes valued by healthcare providers is essential for delivering effective, patient-centered care.

AUSTEDO XR and AUSTEDO are indicated in adults for the treatment of chorea associated with Huntington’s disease and for the treatment of tardive dyskinesia. Common adverse reactions include somnolence, diarrhea, dry mouth, and fatigue.

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd (NYSE and TASE: TEVA) launched LongActingImpact.com on Sept. 16, 2026, an educational resource for healthcare providers focused on long-acting injectables for schizophrenia.

The website aims to equip clinicians with evidence-based information to support informed treatment discussions and decision-making regarding long-acting injectables (LAIs). Teva stated the resource is designed to help remove systemic hurdles and complexities that often create barriers to care.

Adherence Challenges

According to an analysis cited by the company, 67% of patients taking oral medications for schizophrenia were nonadherent or stopped taking them altogether. Despite this high rate of discontinuation, LAIs remain underutilized due to perceived patient resistance and operational complexities.

The new resource provides healthcare providers with information on key topics, including:

• How LAIs reduce relapse risk and protect patient outcomes
• Strategies for ensuring consistent treatment delivery when patients struggle with adherence to daily medication
• How LAIs can support continuity of care during the transition from inpatient to outpatient settings
• Step-by-step guidance for navigating patient conversations, from identifying life goals to building trust

Market Context

An estimated 2.2 million people are currently diagnosed with schizophrenia in the U.S. The condition is linked to suboptimal long-term outcomes, with medication adherence frequently presenting as a major impediment to effective care.

Verena Ramirez Campos, VP of U.S. Medical Affairs and Global Innovative Strategy at Teva, noted that long-acting injectables can help address consistent medication adherence but their potential cannot be fully realized if they are not considered as a treatment option.

Bryce Reynolds, MD at Carolina Outreach, added that many patients do not hear about long-acting injectables until after they have experienced repeated relapses or hospitalizations, even though they have been part of schizophrenia care for years.

What the Numbers Show

The data highlights a significant gap between clinical need and treatment adoption. While 67% of oral medication patients exhibit nonadherence or discontinuation, LAIs remain underutilized. This divergence suggests that barriers to adoption are likely procedural or educational rather than purely clinical efficacy issues, as evidenced by Teva’s focus on providing “practical guidance” and “step-by-step” conversation tools rather than just efficacy data.