Potential side effects accompany most drugs. Patients, coupled with their healthcare provider’s advice, carefully consider a drug’s side effects before use. However, patients and doctors cannot make an informed decision if a manufacturer fails to disclose all possible consequences of a drug. Patients of the prescription thyroid eye medication Tepezza claim they developed permanent hearing loss and tinnitus after taking Tepezza. Individuals have filed lawsuits against Horizon Therapeutics for neglecting to advertise the risk of hearing problems linked to Tepezza. Have you or a loved one suffered hearing loss or tinnitus due to the drug Tepezza? Contact The Lake Law Firm today to speak with a lawyer about a Tepezza lawsuit.
Our law firm is currently handling lawsuits on behalf of individuals harmed by the injectable medication Tepezza. Lawsuits allege Tepezza patients have experienced hearing impairment but were unaware of the possibility of hearing issues as a side effect.
Thyroid eye disease is a rare autoimmune condition in which an individual’s eye muscles, eyelids, tear glands, and tissue behind the eyes become inflamed. This inflammation causes several uncomfortable symptoms, such as redness, pain, bulging eyes, puffiness around the eyes, dry eyes, and irritation. The progressive swelling caused by thyroid eye disease, also known as Graves’ Eye Disease, can result in decreased vision and deep headaches.
Patients try eye drops, radiation therapy, and even thyroid removal surgery in an attempt to treat thyroid eye disease.
Tepezza, manufactured by biopharmaceutical company Horizon Therapeutics, is the first drug to treat thyroid eye disease. The FDA approved Tepezza in January 2020 after the drug underwent a fast-track designation process. According to the FDA, this fast-track process expedites drugs to treat serious conditions and fill unmet medical needs.
Healthcare providers inject Tepezza directly into the patient’s vein once every three weeks, for a total of eight infusions. The drug treats the cause of TED by inhibiting a specific protein called IGF-1R. This protein stimulates orbital fibroblasts, which account for the inflammation and swelling of the eyes. By targeting the IGF-1R receptor, Tepezza prevents tissue expansion behind the eye. The FDA reported that after six months of treatment, 71%-83% of Tepezza patients demonstrated a reduction in proptosis compared to patients treated with a placebo.
Tepezza manufacturer Horizon Therapeutics conducted two clinical trials before FDA approval. These two trials consisted of less than 100 participants, with some patients reporting muscle spasms, hypoglycemia, and worsening IBD symptoms. Meanwhile, the company noted that 10% of patients experienced hearing problems, but Horizon Therapeutics characterized the hearing side effects as “temporary and generally of limited duration.”
However, in March 2021, the Endocrine Society published a study showing that patients taking Tepezza had a higher chance of developing hearing problems than initially believed. Researchers evaluated 26 patients treated with Tepezza. 17 patients out of the 26 total reported ear symptoms, including hearing loss, tinnitus, ear plugging sensation, and autophony. Many of these patients also disclosed that they did not have a prior history of hearing-related conditions. This data starkly contrasts with the previous trials helmed by Horizon Therapeutics.
Furthermore, another study by The American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Inc. concluded that Tepezza may produce a spectrum of irreversible hearing damage due to the blockage of the IGF-1R. Additionally, in February 2022, researchers observed 27 Tepezza patients. 22 patients developed hearing-related symptoms, and multiple patients developed persistent hearing loss.
The possible side effects listed for Tepezza include infusion reactions, worsening of inflammatory bowel disease, high blood sugar, muscle spasms, nausea, hair loss, diarrhea, fatigue, high blood sugar, dry skin, change in taste, and headaches. Yet, individuals have reported severe adverse effects on their hearing. Patients with no prior diagnosis of hearing loss claim to have suffered:
If you did not have hearing issues before taking Tepezza, The Lake Law Firm can connect you with a Tepezza lawyer who can assist you in seeking compensation for your injuries. Victims were unaware of the full extent of the side effects associated with the Graves’ Eye Disease medication. Plaintiffs allege they would have chosen an alternative treatment option had Horizon Therapeutics included hearing problems on the Tepezza warning label.
Lawsuits allege that Horizon Therapeutics downplayed the severity of hearing issues related to Tepezza. Although Horizon acknowledged that some patients may experience hearing problems, plaintiffs argue the company misled the public by assuring these symptoms were mild and reversible.
Arizona resident Daniel Weibel filed a lawsuit against Horizon in August 2022. Weibel received Tepezza infusions between June and September 2020 to treat his thyroid eye disease. His case claims that he developed permanent hearing loss as a result of Tepezza. Weibel states that numerous scientific studies, patient reports, and Horizon’s postmarket studies have established that Tepezza contributes to hearing loss. Despite extensive research, Horizon has failed to warn or inform patients, prescribers, and regulators about Tepezza’s potential to cause hearing loss. In response to Weibel’s lawsuit, Horizon filed to dismiss his case. The company contends that it could not have changed the Tepezza label after FDA approval based on the postmarket studies.
A Tepezza multidistrict litigation (MDL) was created in June 2023. The purpose of an MDL is to promote efficiency by consolidating similar lawsuits filed in different courts under one judge.
As of November 2023, there are 59 Tepezza lawsuits under the MDL.
If you or a loved one suffered hearing loss after taking Tepezza, you may recover compensation for any or all of the following:
Hearing loss can have devastating effects on a victim’s quality of life. Individuals who lose their hearing are at a greater risk of developing mental health disorders like anxiety or depression. Lawsuits state that Horizon Therapeutics knew or should have known about hearing loss related to its thyroid medication Tepezza. Did you develop hearing loss after taking Tepezza? A reliable lawyer from The Lake Law Firm is on standby to discuss your potential Tepezza lawsuit today.
The Lake Law Firm was founded by Edward J. Lake, Esq., a personal injury lawyer for over 25 years. Our dedicated team of attorneys is committed to seeking justice on behalf of those who have suffered injury or death due to the negligence of others. Our experienced attorneys handle many different types of pharmaceutical drugs, medical devices, and other defective products. The lawyers in our firm have helped collect millions of dollars for their clients. The Lake Law Firm will advocate for you and your rights. Please contact us for a free confidential case evaluation at (888) 525-3529 or submit an inquiry on this page.
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