Erin Furr Stimming, MD, FAAN, FANA, McGovern Medical School, UTHealth, Houston, TX, discusses the mechanism of action and efficacy of valbenazine for adults with Huntington’s disease-related chorea. Valbenazine decreases dopamine release, which is believed to contribute to the excessive dopamine signaling that leads to chorea. The FDA approval of valbenazine was supported by data from two clinical trials: the KINECT-HD Phase III study (NCT04102579) and the ongoing KINECT-HD2 open-label study (NCT04400331). The KINECT-HD study demonstrated significant improvements in chorea severity over a 12-week period. However, treatment-emergent adverse events, including somnolence, sedation, rash, and insomnia, were observed. Dr Furr Stimming also highlights the boxed warning for the potential exacerbation of depression and suicidality. Despite these considerations, valbenazine offers a convenient once-daily dosing option for patients with bothersome chorea. This interview was recorded during an online conference call with The Video Journal of Neurology (VJNeurology).
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