Patients diagnosed with thyroid eye disease (TED), a rare condition that typically occurs in patients who also have Grave’s disease, are often prescribed a drug called Tepezza (teprotumumab) to reduce the symptoms and reduce their risk of vision loss.

Tepezza is the first and only medication approved by the FDA for the treatment of TED, which means that even though it has only been around since January 2020, many people suffering from TED rely on it.

This makes it even more devastating that people who took Tepezza, hoping to prevent permanent vision loss, may have instead suffered permanent hearing loss as an unintended side effect.

Read on to learn more about the ongoing lawsuits against the manufacturers of Tepezza, and whether you may be eligible for compensation if you suffered hearing problems after taking this drug.

What is the Tepezza Lawsuit About?

There is no such thing as a medication with no side effects, but in general, a safe drug should only have minor side effects. When there are serious side effects, they should be unlikely to occur in most patients, and all patients must be thoroughly warned of the possibility of those dangerous side effects.

If a medication is more harmful than it is beneficial, it is considered defective and should not be allowed on the market.

The manufacturers of Tepezza were aware that it caused hearing loss. In clinical trials, 10% of patients suffered from hearing loss or another negative hearing-related symptom.

However, the manufacturer, Horizon Therapeutics, did not test thoroughly enough before rushing the drug to market. After the drug had already begun being prescribed and sold, a 2021 study found that the number of patients suffering hearing loss after taking Tepezza was actually as high as 65%!

By failing to ensure the drug was a minimal risk to patients and failing to warn patients about the actual risk of Tepezza, Horizon Therapeutics must be held liable for the harm it has caused.

What Hearing Problems Does Tepezza Cause?

Tepezza is given in a series of eight injections, and patients take one every three weeks for a total period of around five months. After an average of 3-4 injections—halfway through the full course of treatment—more than half of patients began experiencing problems with their hearing, including:

  • Muffled hearing
  • Total hearing loss
  • Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
  • A “plugged-ear” sensation
  • Autophony (A condition where the sound of your own voice, breathing, and chewing is experienced abnormally loud)

Who is Eligible for Compensation After Tepezza-Related Hearing Loss?

Hearing loss and tinnitus can cause devastating effects on a person’s ability to work, perform basic tasks, and on their mental health and quality of life. Permanent hearing loss is a disabling condition, and no one deserves to suffer this as a result of a drug they were told would help them—not harm them.

If you or a loved one received a Tepezza injection and experienced new or worsening hearing or hearing-related symptoms, contact our firm.

You may be eligible for compensation for your medical expenses, hearing loss-related lost wages, and pain and suffering. Our firm offers free consultations, and we want to help you discover your options.

Be prepared to answer questions such as:

  • When did you take Tepezza?
  • When did your symptoms begin?
  • What symptoms did you experience?
  • Have your hearing problems been diagnosed by a doctor?

Fieger Law Stands Up for Victims of Negligent Drug Manufacturers

Negligent drug manufacturers betray the public who their products are intended to serve. They cause real, permanent harm, and they deserve to be held accountable.

We want to help you and your family overcome this injustice and get you the money you will need going forward. Contact today for a free case evaluation.