Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. has announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Austedo (deutetrabenazine) tablets for the treatment of chorea associated with Huntington's disease (HD), a rare and fatal neurodegenerative disorder. Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd is headquartered in Israel.

Indications: Austedo is a vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2) inhibitor indicated for the treatment of chorea associated with Huntington's disease.

Dosage/administration: The starting dose is 6 mg once daily; titrate up at weekly intervals by 6 mg per day to a tolerated dose that reduces chorea, up to a maximum recommended daily dosage of 48 mg (24 mg twice daily). Total daily dosages of ≥12 mg should be administered in 2 divided doses. Tablets should be administered with food and swallowed whole; they should not be chewed, crushed, or broken.

Adverse reactions: Most common adverse reactions were somnolence, diarrhea, dry mouth, and fatigue.