Valbenazine in the treatment of tardive dyskinesia

Tardive dyskinesia (TD) is a bothersome and - at times, disabling - movement disorder associated with exposure to dopamine receptor antagonist medications. On 11 April 2017, valbenazine became the first US FDA-approved medication indicated for the treatment of TD. Valbenazine is a vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2) inhibitor that decreases the abnormal movements of TD. The FDA considered valbenazine a breakthrough therapy in 2014 given its underlying mechanism and its importance in addressing an unmet need, as there were no available FDA-approved medications indicated for TD. The advantages of valbenazine include once-daily dosing and a rapid onset of effect within 2 weeks of treatment initiation.