Tepezza Hearing Loss Lawsuit

Tepezza (Teprotumumab) is an injectable medication used to treat thyroid eye disease (TED). Its maker, Horizon Pharmaceuticals, has recently been facing lawsuits claiming the drug caused plaintiffs to develop permanent hearing loss or tinnitus.

These Tepezza lawsuits claim that the drugmaker knows or should have known that the medication causes hearing loss and other harmful effects, such as tinnitus. Despite numerous studies linking Tepezza to permanent hearing loss and tinnitus, Horizon Therapeutics failed to warn doctors and patients about the risks.

If you or a loved one developed hearing loss or tinnitus due to Tepezza, you could recover financial compensation for your damages. The personal injury attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, LLC are here to help you hold the negligent manufacturer liable and obtain a fair settlement for your losses.

Contact our dangerous drug lawyers at (888) 424-5757 for a free consultation about your Tepezza lawsuit.

What is Tepezza and What is it Used For?

Tepezza (teprotumumab) is an injectable medication used to treat thyroid eye disease. Thyroid eye disease (TED), also known as Graves’ eye disease, is a rare autoimmune condition characterized by inflammation of the eye muscles, tear glands, eyelids, and fatty tissues behind the eye. People with thyroid eye disease may have red, swollen, or bulging eyes.

In some cases, thyroid eye disease causes excessive swelling and stiffness in the eyes to the point that they can no longer move in line with each other, leading to double vision. Rarely, TED causes reduced vision from excess pressure in the back of the eye.

Tepezza is the Only Food and Drug Administration Approved Drug to Treat Thyroid Eye Disease

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Tepezza for TED treatment based on two clinical trials conducted in Europe and the US.

Based on individual trials, a higher percentage of patients who received Tepezza demonstrated reduced proptosis (bulging of one or both eyeballs) after six months of treatment.

Are There Side Effects to Using Tepezza?

According to Tepezza’s website, possible side effects of the thyroid eye disease drug may include the following:

• Muscle cramps or spasms
• Hair loss
• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Fatigue
• High blood sugar
• Changes in taste
• Headache
• Dry skin
• Nail problems
• Weight loss
• Changes in menstruation
• Blurred vision and dry eyes
• Hearing problems

Can Tepezza Cause Permanent Hearing Loss and Tinnitus?

Several peer-reviewed medical journals have found a link between Tepezza and otologic problems, including hearing loss and tinnitus (ringing in the ears).

In 2021, a year after Tepezza received FDA approval, the Endocrine Society published a study on hearing loss and Tepezza. The study involved 26 Tepezza users who were given at least four infusions.

Researchers found that 65% of users reported hearing problems after four infusions (17 patients)--over six times higher than the estimated risk of hearing-related side effects disclosed by the maker during the FDA approval process.

Of those 17 patients, 23% suffered hearing loss (6 patients), 27% developed tinnitus or ringing in the ears (7 patients), and 12% reported an ear-plugging sensation (3 patients). Moreover, 29% of participants reported developing autophony, a condition wherein the voice sounds unusually loud to one’s self.

Two patients had sensorineural hearing loss, while one developed patulous eustachian tube dysfunction, wherein the eustachian tube (the opening that connects the middle ear to the nasal cavity) remains open.

Several patients said their hearing problems lessened after a few months. However, the follow-up period was limited, leaving unanswered questions about the reversibility of the drug’s side effects.

While the study was relatively small, the fact that a significant portion of Tepezza users experienced otologic issues raises questions about the drug's safety.

Previously, Horizon Therapeutics conducted their own clinical trials and warned that 10% of users might experience hearing problems--far less than the NIH study found.

The First Tepezza Hearing Loss Lawsuit

In August 2022, Daniel Weibel filed the first Tepezza hearing loss lawsuit against Horizon Therapeutics in the Northern District of Illinois. Weibel claimed that he developed permanent hearing loss after a series of Tepezza infusions between June and September 2022, several months after the FDA approved the drug.

The drug’s warning label indicates hearing loss as a potential side effect, but Weibel alleges false and misleading information suggested that the hearing loss resolves and is short-lived. According to Weibel, he would have never agreed to the treatment if he knew Tepezza could cause long-lasting hearing problems, including permanent loss of hearing.

In November 2022, Donna Walker filed the second Tepezza lawsuit against Horizon for the defective thyroid eye disease treatment. Like Weibel, Walker experienced hearing loss after taking the drug. She alleges that the company misinterpreted the safety of Tepezza, suggesting that reports of hearing loss or tinnitus were non-typical and reversible.

Since then, multiple Tepezza lawsuits have sprung up, with plaintiffs claiming they suffered hearing problems after Tepezza treatment. Many of these suits allege that the drugmaker failed to properly warn patients about potentially permanent hearing loss and other hearing issues. Others allege that the company aggressively marketed the drug without warning consumers of the risks.

Many people who experienced hearing loss from Tepezza would require life-long use of hearing aids.

Is There a Tepezza Hearing Loss Multidistrict Litigation?

Not yet. Usually, courts centralize multiple product liability lawsuits claiming similar injuries into multidistrict litigation (MDL). However, Tepezza litigation is still in the early stages. Many lawyers anticipate more Tepezza hearing loss lawsuits to come in the following months and potential bellwether trials.

If plaintiffs and defendants cannot reach settlements, each Tepezza lawsuit would go to a separate district court to determine the payout.

Are You Eligible to File a Tepezza Hearing Loss Lawsuit?

Experiencing impairment in one of your senses, even if partial, can significantly impact your life. Hearing issues can affect your health, career, family, and general quality of life. Tepezza is supposed to treat thyroid eye disease--which is, by itself, a potentially limiting condition--not add to one’s suffering.

You could file a Tepezza lawsuit against Horizon Pharmaceuticals (aka Horizon Therapeutics) if you suffered one or more of the following conditions after receiving the drug:

• Temporary or permanent hearing loss
• Partial loss of hearing
• Eustachian tube dysfunction
• Increased sensitivity to sound (hyperacusis)
• Autophony
• Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
• Sensorineural hearing loss

What Evidence Do You Need to File a Tepezza Lawsuit?

Medical records will be primary evidence in your Tepezza hearing loss lawsuit. Your records must show that you:

• Received multiple Tepezza infusions to treat TED
• Suffered hearing loss or tinnitus or other hearing-related side effects

Furthermore, you need proof of your losses for your Tepezza lawsuit, which may include the following:

• Medical bills
• Records of missed school or workdays
• Documentation of physical or emotional suffering due to Tepezza-related injuries

Your lawyer will discuss these documents further during your free legal consultation.

What Damages Can You Recover By Taking Legal Action?

Filing a Tepezza lawsuit could help you recover compensation for the following losses:

• Medical Expenses: Your out-of-pocket expenses for hospitalization, medication, surgery, therapy, etc., to treat hearing-related problems.
• Disability: Hearing aid costs, loss of future earning potential, and other related damages if you suffered permanent hearing loss.
• Pain and Suffering: Compensation for physical and emotional harm caused by Tepezza infusions, including physical pain, emotional trauma, mental health problems, etc.
• Loss of Quality of Life: Compensation for enjoyment or quality of life lost due to hearing-related problems.
• Lost Wages: Income and benefits lost due to partial or permanent hearing problems.
• Punitive Damages: Additional compensation may be awarded to plaintiffs to punish the defendant for failing to properly warn patients of Tepezza’s hearing-related side effects and the risk of permanent hearing damage.

It is too early to calculate an average Tepezza settlement amount. However, your lawyer can help you assess how much you should receive in compensation for your hearing disorder and its economic and non-economic effects on your life during your free legal consultation.

Is There a Time Limit for Filing a Tepezza Lawsuit?

Product liability laws vary by state, meaning each state has a different statute of limitations for injuries caused by defective products. Most states allow plaintiffs up to two to three years to file.

If you suffered permanent hearing loss or other otological problems from Tepezza infusions, take legal action as soon as possible.

What to Do Before Taking Tepezza

Due to the drug’s risk of causing potentially permanent hearing loss, medical experts recommend screening before receiving Tepezza infusions. Consult your provider for further information.

How Our Tepezza Lawyers Can Help

Legal representation is crucial when filing a product liability lawsuit against a large firm like Horizon. Our experienced attorneys can help you seek financial compensation by:

• Navigating your legal options
• Calculating your losses based on the damages caused by Tepezza infusions
• Gathering substantial evidence to support your case
• Sourcing experts and specialists to provide proof of your ear injury
• Filing a Tepezza lawsuit on your behalf
• Negotiating a fair settlement for your losses

Our team can discuss these responsibilities further during your free consultation.

Schedule a Free Legal Consultation with an Experienced Tepezza Hearing Loss Attorney

No one should have to suffer when a drug company chooses to ignore relevant safety concerns. Unfortunately, people with thyroid eye disease (TED) trusted Horizon and its promising new product for relief from the illness, unaware of the risks of hearing-related problems.

If you or a loved one experienced hearing loss or other otological issues after taking Tepezza, you have the right to seek financial compensation. The attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, LLC have previously handled similar product liability cases involving other drugs and medical devices; we are ready to take on lawsuits concerning this new problem and defend patients’ legal rights.

Contact our personal injury law firm at (888) 424-5757 or use the contact form for a free case review today. All confidential or sensitive information you share with our legal team will remain private under an attorney-client relationship.

Our lawyers handle all accepted hearing loss cases on a contingency fee basis. You don’t have to pay our legal fees unless we win your case.

Resources:

• FDA - About Tepezza Medication Trial
• NIH - Hearing Impairment Associated With Tepezza