What Is Tepezza?
Tepezza is the first drug approved In the United States to treat patients with thyroid eye disease (TED). This rare autoimmune disease causes muscles and fatty tissue behind the eyes to become inflamed. As a result, the eyes are pushed forward and bulge outward. This condition is known as proptosis.
In addition to bulging eyes, people with TED often have dry, watery, or red eyes. They may also have a stare, double vision, and difficulty closing their eyes.
About 50% of people with the autoimmune condition Graves’ disease will develop TED (also known as Graves’ ophthalmopathy).
Tepezza is given through a series of intravenous injections, usually in a doctor’s office or another health care setting. Patients get eight Tepezza infusions — one every three weeks. Tepezza is not intended for long-term use.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Tepezza in January 2020. Since then, researchers have found that Tepezza may cause hearing problems in the majority of people who use it.
In some of these cases, hearing problems linked to this dangerous drug appear to be permanent.
Tepezza Side Effects & Hearing Loss
Before the FDA approved Tepezza, it conducted two clinical trials and found that 10% of patients reported hearing problems.
One recent study, however, found that 65% of patients who received at least four infusions of Tepezza reported new hearing-related side effects.
- Eustachian tube dysfunction
- Difficulty hearing clearly (hypoacusis)
- Hearing loss
- Hearing your own voice loudly (autophony)
- Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
- Sensation of plugged ears
Damage to hair cells in the inner ear causes permanent hearing loss (sensorineural hearing loss).
Some Tepezza patients also ended up with a disorder known as patulous eustachian tube in which the channel from the middle ear and back of the nose and throat stays open. Under normal circumstances, these eustachian tubes only open sporadically to control air pressure near the ear drum.
Tepezza patients may also experience these side effects:
- Alopecia (hair loss)
- Diarrhea
- Dry skin
- Dysgeusia (altered sense of taste)
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Hyperglycemia (high blood sugar)
- Muscle spasm
- Nausea
Tepezza manufacturer Horizon Therapeutics plc disputes that most patients treated with the drug experience hearing problems.
The company says it monitored thousands of Tepezza patients from January 2020 to August 2021 and found that about 10% of Tepezza users reported a hearing-related event. These results match up with results from the clinical trials.
How Long Do Tepezza Side Effects Last?
While some Tepezza patients with hearing-related symptoms improved over time, others did not.
Studies looking at the reversibility of symptoms are underway.
The researchers who found an increased risk of hearing impairment with Tepezza recommend screening precautions such as baseline hearing testing to understand this side effect better.
Did Tepezza damage your hearing? If so, you may qualify for a Tepezza lawsuit. Call (888) 726-9160 to speak to one of our case managers at LawFirm.com for a free, no-obligation case evaluation.
Can I File a Tepezza Lawsuit?
You may be eligible to file a Tepezza lawsuit if you or a loved one:
- Received a Tepezza or teprotumumab infusion and
- Sustained permanent hearing loss or tinnitus as a result
The first Tepezza lawsuit was filed in the fall of 2022. Tepezza lawsuits are a kind of product liability lawsuit. So far, there is no Tepezza class-action lawsuit for hearing loss.
In general, Tepezza lawsuits allege that drug manufacturer Horizon Pharmaceuticals plc failed to adequately warn patients or their doctors that the medication could cause hearing damage. They say the company should have changed the Tepezza label and recommended audiological monitoring.
- Hearing aids
- Loss of income
- Medical bills
- Pain and suffering
- Related expenses
Hearing-related injuries can be expensive to treat. A quality pair of hearing aids, for example, can cost as much as $7,000.
How to File a Tepezza Lawsuit for Hearing Loss
The first step in filing a Tepezza lawsuit is to find a dangerous drug attorney to help with your case.
A personal injury lawyer skilled in this area of the law can handle all aspects of the legal process — from filing a Tepezza lawsuit to negotiating a settlement or litigating the case to a verdict.
An attorney can obtain your medical records and other evidence to prove your case. For example, medical records can show that you were administered the drug and that other medical conditions are not responsible for your hearing loss.
In addition, dangerous drug attorneys understand that this is a stressful time for you and your family and can provide emotional support.
Do you qualify for a Tepezza lawsuit? Contact our team at LawFirm.com for a free case review.
Tepezza Lawsuit Settlement Amounts
In most cases, compensation from a Tepezza lawsuit will come from:
- Tepezza settlements: When your legal team and the defendant agree on the amount of money you are owed for your injuries, you have a Tepezza settlement.
- Tepezza trial verdicts: If your legal team cannot reach a settlement, your team can present your Tepezza lawsuit in court. A judge or jury will decide the winning party.
Dangerous drug attorneys typically prefer settlements over verdicts because they are less risky and provide clients quicker access to compensation needed for medical treatment and other expenses.
It is too early to predict settlement amounts in Tepezza lawsuits. As with other dangerous drug cases, settlement amounts will likely depend on the severity of the patient’s injury.
Over the past decade, pharmaceutical companies have paid billions of dollars to settle dangerous drug lawsuits.
Learn How a Tepezza Law Firm Can Help
Not only can a dangerous medication law firm handle a Tepezza lawsuit from start to finish, but they are best positioned to maximize settlement amounts.
After verifying that you are eligible for a Tepezza lawsuit, a dangerous drug law firm can assemble a team of professionals to fight for your legal rights. Your legal team can:
- Collect evidence to show that Tepezza caused your hearing-related injuries
- File your Tepezza lawsuit
- Negotiate a Tepezza settlement with all parties responsible for your injuries
- Argue your case in court, if necessary
Contact one of our representatives at LawFirm.com today to find out if you qualify for a Tepezza lawsuit. There is no cost or obligation.
Find a Top Tepezza Lawyer
Finding a lawyer to handle a Tepezza hearing-loss case may seem time-consuming and intimidating, especially when you are not feeling your best.
LawFirm.com can help. Our team has partnered with a network of attorneys who can file a Tepezza lawsuit on your behalf. These legal professionals will fight to ensure you receive the compensation you deserve.
The law firms in our network all have these vital traits:
Tepezza lawsuits have strict time limits, so it is to your advantage that you contact a lawyer as soon as possible.
Do you qualify for financial compensation from a Tepezza lawsuit? Find out by filling out our free case review form.
FAQs About Tepezza Hearing Loss Lawsuits
Does Tepezza cause hearing loss?
A study conducted in 2021 found that as many as 2 out of 3 patients who undergo Tepezza treatments for thyroid eye disease are at risk for hearing loss and other hearing-related symptoms.
The study collected data on 26 patients who received at least four injections or infusions of Tepezza. Of those patients, 65% reported new problems with their hearing, including:
- Loud hearing of a person’s own voice (29%)
- Ringing in the ears (tinnitus) (27%)
- Hearing loss (23%)
- Plugged ear sensation (12%)
Most patients probably would not have taken Tepezza if they knew they had a considerable risk of developing permanent hearing loss or another serious hearing-related injury.
What is Tepezza prescribed for?
Tepezza (teprotumumab) is the only FDA-approved medication for thyroid eye disease (TED), which is associated with Graves’ disease. Tepezza received FDA approval in January 2020.
Graves’ disease is an autoimmune disorder caused by the overproduction of thyroid hormones.
People with TED often experience bulging eyes, double vision, and eye pain.
Does Tepezza have side effects?
Yes, Tepezza has many side effects.
The common side effects listed on the Tepezza website are:
- Diarrhea
- Dry skin
- Fatigue
- Hair loss
- Headache
- Hearing problems
- High blood sugar
- Muscle spasms
- Nausea
- Taste changes
The pharmaceutical company that makes Tepezza says 10% of patients taking Tepezza “had issues with their hearing, including a lowered ability to hear.”
However, it appears that the company may be downplaying the drug’s hearing-related side effects. In one study, 2 out of 3 patients treated with Tepezza reported new hearing problems.
The researchers presented their results at a meeting of The Endocrine Society.
If you took Tepezza and developed hearing damage as a result, you could be entitled to compensation. Contact a team member at LawFirm.com to see if you qualify for a Tepezza lawsuit.
Does Tepezza cure thyroid eye disease?
No, use of Tepezza does not cure thyroid eye disease. But it has been found to reduce disease symptoms, including double vision and bulging of the eyes.
One study found that Graves’ disease patients who responded well to Tepezza showed no progression of their thyroid eye disease. Graves’ eye disease is a type of thyroid eye disease.
However, because the drug is still new, there is no data on long-term results or safety.
Who makes Tepezza?
A company called Horizon Therapeutics plc manufactures Tepezza. The company, based in Dublin, Ireland, has locations in the United States, Canada, and other countries.
Horizon makes medications for rare autoimmune diseases.
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