Neurocrine Biosciences Presents Head-to-Head Data Showing INGREZZA's Superior VMAT2 Target Occupancy Over AUSTEDO XR
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Jan 15 2026
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Should l Buy NBIX?
Source: PRnewswire
- Efficacy Comparison: At the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology Annual Meeting, Neurocrine presented data showing that INGREZZA achieves approximately 76.5% VMAT2 occupancy at therapeutic doses, nearly double that of AUSTEDO XR, indicating its potential superiority in treating movement disorders.
- Clinical Significance: The high VMAT2 occupancy of INGREZZA aligns with its robust early and sustained efficacy demonstrated in multiple clinical trials, suggesting a more effective solution for tardive dyskinesia and Huntington's disease chorea treatment.
- Research Methodology: The study utilized positron emission tomography (PET) imaging to assess VMAT2 occupancy of INGREZZA (40mg or 80mg) versus AUSTEDO XR (24mg or 48mg) in eight participants, ensuring the reliability and scientific rigor of the findings.
- Drug Characteristics: As a selective VMAT2 inhibitor, INGREZZA possesses unique pharmacological properties that effectively reduce excessive dopamine transmission, potentially improving symptoms associated with movement disorders, which is expected to enhance its market acceptance and clinical application.
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Analyst Views on NBIX
Wall Street analysts forecast NBIX stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for NBIX is 179.68 USD with a low forecast of 143.00 USD and a high forecast of 203.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
20 Analyst Rating
17 Buy
3 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 137.930
Low
143.00
Averages
179.68
High
203.00
Current: 137.930
Low
143.00
Averages
179.68
High
203.00
About NBIX
Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc. is a neuroscience-focused, biopharmaceutical company. The Company is engaged in discovering and developing treatments for patients with under-addressed neurological, neuroendocrine and neuropsychiatric disorders. Its diverse portfolio includes the United States Food and Drug Administration-approved treatments for tardive dyskinesia, chorea associated with Huntington’s disease, endometriosis and uterine fibroids, as well as a robust pipeline, including multiple compounds in mid-to late-phase clinical development across its core therapeutic areas. Its commercial products include INGREZZA, ALKINDI, EFMODY, Orilissa, and Oriahnn. INGREZZA is marketed as DYSVAL (valbenazine) in Japan and REMLEAS (valbenazine) in other select Asian markets, where Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation retains commercialization rights. ALKINDI is marketed as ALKINDI SPRINKLE (hydrocortisone) in the United States, where Eton Pharmaceuticals, Inc. retains commercialization rights.
About the author

Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
- Clinical Trial Launch: Neurocrine Biosciences has announced the initiation of its Phase 2 clinical study for NBI-1065890, aiming to enroll approximately 100 adults with tardive dyskinesia to assess the drug's efficacy, safety, and tolerability, marking a strategic advancement in VMAT2 biology.
- Drug Characteristics: NBI-1065890 is a next-generation selective VMAT2 inhibitor with distinct physical and chemical properties that may provide treatment options for a broader range of tardive dyskinesia patients, reflecting the company's deep expertise and innovative capabilities in neuroscience.
- Efficacy Assessment Metrics: The primary efficacy endpoint of the study is the change from baseline in the AIMS score at Week 8, aiming to scientifically validate the clinical application potential of NBI-1065890, thereby delivering lasting positive impacts for patients.
- Market Outlook: Tardive dyskinesia affects at least 800,000 adults in the U.S., and the successful development of NBI-1065890 will further solidify Neurocrine's leadership position in the treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders, providing strong support for the company's future growth.
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- Clinical Trial Launch: Neurocrine Biosciences has announced the initiation of its Phase 2 clinical study for NBI-1065890, planning to enroll approximately 100 adults with tardive dyskinesia to assess the drug's efficacy, safety, and tolerability.
- Drug Characteristics: NBI-1065890 is a selective VMAT2 inhibitor with distinct physical and chemical properties, potentially offering treatment options for a broader range of tardive dyskinesia patients, reflecting nearly 20 years of expertise in VMAT2 inhibition.
- Efficacy Assessment Metrics: The primary efficacy endpoint of the study is the change from baseline in the AIMS score at Week 8, aiming to scientifically validate the clinical value of the drug and enhance its market potential.
- Strategic Importance: Advancing this clinical trial is a key component of Neurocrine's strategy to define the future of VMAT2 biology and deliver lasting therapeutic impacts for patients, further solidifying its leadership position in the neuroscience field.
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- Efficacy Comparison: At the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology Annual Meeting, Neurocrine presented data showing that INGREZZA achieves approximately 76.5% VMAT2 occupancy at therapeutic doses, nearly double that of AUSTEDO XR, indicating its potential superiority in treating movement disorders.
- Clinical Significance: The high VMAT2 occupancy of INGREZZA aligns with its robust early and sustained efficacy demonstrated in multiple clinical trials, suggesting a more effective solution for tardive dyskinesia and Huntington's disease chorea treatment.
- Research Methodology: The study utilized positron emission tomography (PET) imaging to assess VMAT2 occupancy of INGREZZA (40mg or 80mg) versus AUSTEDO XR (24mg or 48mg) in eight participants, ensuring the reliability and scientific rigor of the findings.
- Drug Characteristics: As a selective VMAT2 inhibitor, INGREZZA possesses unique pharmacological properties that effectively reduce excessive dopamine transmission, potentially improving symptoms associated with movement disorders, which is expected to enhance its market acceptance and clinical application.
See More

- Efficacy Comparison: The latest study reveals that INGREZZA exhibits a VMAT2 occupancy of approximately 76.5%, nearly double that of AUSTEDO XR at 38.3%, indicating a significant therapeutic advantage that may lead to improved clinical outcomes for patients.
- Dosage Analysis: The research compared doses of 40mg and 80mg of INGREZZA against 24mg and 48mg of AUSTEDO XR, demonstrating consistently higher VMAT2 occupancy across all doses for INGREZZA, thereby reinforcing its competitive position in the market.
- Clinical Implications: The high VMAT2 occupancy of INGREZZA aligns with its robust early and sustained efficacy observed in multiple clinical trials, potentially offering patients more effective treatment options, particularly for tardive dyskinesia and Huntington's disease chorea.
- Safety Assessment: All doses of INGREZZA and AUSTEDO XR were generally well tolerated and consistent with their known safety profiles, indicating good safety and tolerability in clinical applications.
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- AbbVie Rating Adjustment: Morgan Stanley analyst maintains AbbVie at Overweight and raises the price target from $261 to $269, despite the stock dropping 4% over the past five days to $220.18, with a 52-week low of $164.39.
- argenx Downgrade: Baird analyst downgraded argenx from Outperform to Neutral, lowering the price target from $924 to $858, resulting in an 11% decline in stock price over the past month, currently at $800.88, with a 52-week low of $510.06.
- Neurocrine Clinical Trial Update: Neurocrine Biosciences reported disappointing results from a Phase 3 study of valbenazine for dyskinetic cerebral palsy, leading to a 12% drop in stock price over the past month, now at $135.99, with a 52-week low of $84.23.
- Market Opportunity Analysis: Oversold stocks in the healthcare sector present buying opportunities, with RSI values below 30 for AbbVie (29.9), argenx (19.6), and Neurocrine (27.4) indicating potential short-term rebounds.
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- Successful Dose Adjustment: Among patients treated with an 80 mg dose, 88% were able to reduce glucocorticoid doses to physiological replacement levels after 12 weeks, enhancing patient quality of life while potentially reducing long-term side effect risks.
- Good Safety Profile: Atumelnant showed no serious adverse events during the study, with no participants discontinuing treatment due to adverse events, indicating strong tolerability and enhancing its marketability.
- Broad Market Potential: Crinetics recognized over $5 million in revenue from Palsonify in Q4 2025, demonstrating strong market acceptance and demand for its products, further solidifying the company's position in the endocrine disease treatment sector.
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