Neurocrine Biosciences (NBIX) Presents Data on Benztropine

Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: NBIX) today announced data on the real-world comorbidities, polypharmacy, and treatment patterns of patients on newly prescribed benztropine who were also being treated with antipsychotic medications. This research will be presented at the 2022 American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA) Annual Conference being held October 19–22 both virtually and in Long Beach, CA.

The new findings are from a retrospective 24-month observational study of claims between January 1, 2017, and March 30, 2020 (Poster #152; Characteristics, Polypharmacy, and Medication Adherence Among Patients Prescribed Benztropine with a History of Antipsychotic Use). Benztropine is an anticholinergic medication approved as an adjunct for treatment of all forms of parkinsonism, including drug-induced parkinsonism that causes movement problems similar to those seen in Parkinson's disease, such as tremors, slow movement, and stiffness. Benztropine can also be used to control other antipsychotic-induced movement disorders, except for tardive dyskinesia (TD).

The analysis found that the patient population, who received at least one new benztropine prescription during the study, often had multiple comorbidities, substantial polypharmacy, and mild, moderate, or severe anticholinergic burden associated with the medications patients were taking prior to initiation of benztropine. After starting benztropine, 38 percent of these patients were on this medication for longer than six months, exceeding recommendations for acute use. These results indicate that regular evaluation of anticholinergic use is clinically warranted, especially in patients who are taking multiple medications with anticholinergic properties and have an increased risk of adverse anticholinergic effects.

"The use of benztropine may be appropriate for acute treatment of some antipsychotic-induced movement disorders, but not for tardive dyskinesia," said Eiry W. Roberts, MD, Chief Medical Officer at Neurocrine Biosciences. "In fact, antiparkinson agents like benztropine do not alleviate the symptoms of TD and may even aggravate them. These data help characterize the need for increased education regarding appropriate use of anticholinergic medications."

Additional Presentations Include:

• Global Improvements and Psychiatric Stability in Adults with Tardive Dyskinesia: Post Hoc Analyses of Two Long-Term Valbenazine Studies (Poster #155)
• Long-Term Valbenazine Is Effective for Tardive Dyskinesia in Elderly Patients (≥65 Years) (Poster #164)

The full abstracts being presented by Neurocrine Biosciences at the 2022 APNA Annual Conference can be accessed by registering for the meeting here.

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