FDA approves first drug for treatment of chorea in Huntington’s disease

On August 15, 2008, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that it has approved Xenazine (tetrabenazine) for the treatment of chorea in people with Huntington’s disease, an inherited nervous system disorder. Chorea is the jerky, involuntary muscle movement that occurs in people with this disease. Xenazine is the first drug of any kind approved in the U.S. to treat any symptoms of Huntington's, and is the first FDA-approved drug to treat chorea. Xenazine has been available in a number of countries in Europe for more than 30 years.

The FDA notes that serious side effects reported with use of Xenazine include depression and suicidal thoughts and actions. Xenazine should not be used by people who are actively suicidal or who have untreated depression. Concerns about the risk of suicide are heightened in all people with Huntington’s disease. Xenazine is manufactured by Prestwick Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

• FDA news release about Xenazine approval
• Prestwick Pharmaceuticals press release about Xenazine