Valbenazine keeps Huntington's chorea in check for a full 5 years

The longest follow-up dataset ever recorded for an approved Huntington's disease chorea treatment is in — and the results are encouraging. The KINECT-HD2 study tracked 154 patients over five years on valbenazine (Ingrezza), an FDA-approved vesicular monoamine transporter 2 inhibitor, and found sustained reductions in chorea scores throughout the entire period. Mean total maximal chorea scores dropped from 12 at baseline to 6.1 at 50 weeks and held steady through 234 weeks — a stark contrast to an untreated matched cohort, whose scores barely budged (11.9 at baseline vs. 11.6 at 234 weeks).

Clinician and patient satisfaction ratings told a similarly positive story, with improvement ratings climbing steadily over time. The safety profile remained consistent with earlier trials, with no new Parkinsonism, akathisia, or suicidality concerns flagged.

By the Numbers:

• 88.9% of clinicians rated patients as "much" or "very much" improved at 156 weeks
• 77.8% of patients rated themselves similarly improved at 156 weeks
• Mean chorea score fell from 12 at baseline to 4.3 at 260 weeks
• Most common treatment-emergent adverse events were falls (45.5%), somnolence (26%), and fatigue (21.4%)

Why it matters: Huntington's disease is progressive and has no cure, making long-term symptom management critical. These findings give clinicians and patients confidence that valbenazine can meaningfully control chorea over many years — a significant reassurance for a population navigating a relentless disease.