Pediatric Tourette Treatment Receives Orphan-Drug Designation

The FDA granted orphan-drug status to Neurocrine Biosciences’ Ingrezza (valbenazine) for the treatment of children with Tourette syndrome.

The syndrome appears at age 6 on average and peaks in intensity at age 10.

Ingrezza was approved in February to treat adults with tardive dyskinesia, a condition typically characterized by involuntary grimacing, sticking out the tongue and sucking or fish-like movements of the mouth.  The condition is associated with long-term treatment by antipsychotic medications.